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SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

Interlude I - Prologue

The blue-white streaks of hyperspace disappeared as the hyperdrive disengaged and brought him into the system. Six planets orbited a sun glowing an icy-blue, most of them uninhabitable and boiling. The ones on the outer reaches were little more than frozen chunks of rock. Indeed, even the planet he was heading to was only slightly better than Hoth, from what little information had been provided.

He’d attempted to research the planet of course, and found nothing. The man who had approached him had only given him a name and coordinates.

Sadow.

The Sith didn’t take chances on making their base easy to get to. The route the VI had plotted had warned him that there were no known fueling stations in that sector of the galaxy and the location was a one-way trip. Out of curiosity he’d ordered a different route be plotted, this time taking advantage of known fueling stations. An impossibility, as he’d found out.

The route was a one-way trip. The only possible way back was on Sadow itself. Clever. And that wasn’t considering that all the routes involved traversing nebulae, asteroid belts, ion storms, or skirting black holes. Depending on the route taken, some of these celestial dangers could be avoided, but not all of them.

The Sith obviously meant for this to be a filter of sorts. More tests. The Sith loved their tests, and he didn’t fault them. He could respect only accepting a certain quality of recruit. One reason he’d found it more intriguing than alarming when he’d learned the truth. So much about the Sith was lost, twisted, ignored, or outright fabricated that initially he’d wondered if it was a front for something else.

After all, the Sith were gone, or at best, barely scraping by.

Clearly not the case.

R2-C8 warbled apprehensively. He smiled to himself. While for certain the Force had been useful in navigating the dangers of space, the astromech also had played an important role in making sure they had both arrived safely. Outdated the R2 models may be at this point, but there was a reason the model was still being used hundreds of years later.

With a few upgrades he’d added on.

“Hard part’s over,” he said to the droid, flipping a few switches and gripping the helmstick, “Any readings from the planet?”

The ship began moving toward their destination and the VI calculated that it would be a few hours yet before they touched down. R2 beeped a negative.

He raised an eyebrow. “None at all?”

Slightly surprising. It meant either that any instruments were cloaked or intentionally obscured – or that there really wasn’t anything at all. And R2 would be able to pick up if anything was masked. Lips pursed in a thin line, he considered options. He’d anticipated that once he’d arrived, he’d be able to land at the locator beacon at the Sith Academy.

His mistake, he realized, was assuming that the Sith would actually make it that easy for him.

“Well then,” he said to himself, “Here we go.”

The rest of the flight was silent and uneventful. The ice planet loomed in the distance, and R2 reported that the planet was undergoing perpetual snowstorms of various – and unnatural – intensity. The entire planet was literally an ongoing snowstorm – he wondered if it was something induced by the Sith themselves.

It wouldn’t be unprecedented.

No easy landings here. So, he did what came naturally. He leaned back in his seat and took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and opened himself to the Force. Once difficult, he felt the calm and serene comfort descend over him in what felt like seconds but in reality, was a quarter of an hour.

People often believed that those who were deeply within the Force were granted precognition. This was untrue in his experience. It wasn’t so much precognition as the world around him simply moved slower than he could think. He could sense everything around him and see with inhuman clarity.

With deft and sure hands, he guided the ship through the snowstorm, being able to sense the currents and blasts, and turned the ship appropriately to accommodate them. He eased on the accelerator as he heard the whine and smelled the acrid stench of the overworked engines. With a hand he dissipated the snow which had built up around the ship, and through all of this, he extended his presence to the seemingly lifeless planet below.

Ah, there.

Once found, it was impossible to ignore. There was a convergence in the Force, an area which resonated power. It was saturated in the dark side, yet he sensed no strong emotions associated with the power. There was simply a stark coldness and foreboding which filled him. Unease which crept over him like thousands of tiny insects.

Well, he’d found the Sith.

He knew where it was now and could have severed the connection. But he refrained. He would need to get used to it eventually, and if he couldn’t handle the passive aura of so many concentrated practitioners of the dark side… well, he wasn’t going to last long. And indeed, perhaps they could stand to be balanced out a bit.

The Jedi had taught him well in at least one aspect. The Force rested over him like a calming shroud, and with his will he kept the worst of the darkness away from him. He would not allow such taint, not here and not yet. He continued traveling for many more minutes, until he saw the destination before him.

A massive temple stood in the raging snowstorm – built in similar design as the massassi temples of Yavin 4, although unlike the ruins, this one was whole and towering. Gray stone covered in white snow nonetheless stood out on the barren landscape, echoing the mountains which surrounded it.

It had not been as easy as anticipated, but he’d arrived at the Sith Academy of Sadow.

The whipping ice pelted him and R2 as they walked toward the front of the temple. Snow crunched under his boots, leaving tracks that were covered up moments later. The astromech was having a more difficult time traversing the snow, but managed, even if he had to slow down to allow it to catch up.

The fine cloak he wore insulated him well enough for the most part, even if the biting cold could not be fully ignored. But the physical cold was nothing compared to the icy hollowness that grew stronger with every step he took toward the temple. It was the dark side for certain, yet it was not drowning in malice and hate.

Only cold indifference which slowed his heart and chilled his blood.

The Force did not waver here; the Jedi would assume otherwise, of course. They would consider it corrupted, but he’d learned enough to believe that this was… misguided. It was not to say that the dark side simply did not exist, as that was an outright falsehood. All that was provable was that the Force here was… changed.

The Force reflected the people who used it.

It didn’t tell him that there were Sith here.

It told him the Sith who resided here were cold and emotionless.

Quite different from the Sith of legend.

He stopped and stood for a moment in the whirling snowstorm.

Why am I allowing this?

Accepting the elements was something a Jedi would do. ‘Acceptance is the key to all difficulties,’ so the platitude went. Even now, all these years later, he still had trouble breaking away from the standard Jedi mindset. He didn’t need to accept something if there was a solution right in front of him.

He drew upon the Force, that which froze his throat as happened in this warped place and twisted a gloved wrist and the ice which pelted him suddenly whipped around him and R2. With the wind barrier in place, he proceeded walking with as much ease as if it were a sunny day. R2 chirped appreciatively. He merely smiled to himself.

Much better.

Ahead of him he spotted a lone figure waiting for him. Standing at attention, with hands clasped behind his back as he approached. He wore light armor colored black and silver, lacking any kind of marking or emblem. There were no visible weapons on him, nor did he wear a helmet. While he initially took the figure for a human, the silver hair, pale skin, and striking facial markings indicated it was a sarkhai instead. Near-human, true, but with some obvious physical differences.

Namely their physical characteristics, including blue eyes, and the fact that they were almost never Force-sensitive. Strange that one was here now. Out of curiosity he reached out to see if this was an exception and confirmed that the Force could not be felt by this man.

Interesting.

Instead of a greeting, the man extended a hand to the temple door which was open. With a nod, he walked through with the man following behind him as the stone doors shut behind him with a grinding clang. Dusting some of the snow off R2 as the figure appraised them.

“I trust that you found your way here without issue.”

“None that I could not have anticipated,” he answered, straightening up and looking at the glacier-eyed man more directly, “It is… difficult to hide if you know what to look for.”

“So I have heard.”

He was struck by how calm and bland his voice was, which immediately made him raise his guard.

The man continued, “Many here doubted you would come. I trust you understand such expectations are… high?”

As they had always been. “Of course.”

“Good. Follow me.” They began walking down the dimmed stone corridors, all of which were devoid of life. “Do you have a preference for how I address you?”

“Just ‘Alexander.’ ”

“Understood.”

As they continued, he was fairly sure he could hear something in the distance. He expected to hear the sounds of lightsabers, of exertion; battle cries and shouts. Perhaps the harsh commands of instructors. He did hear all those things, but there was another that caught his ears, and he more deeply felt in the Force.

Screams, and several individuals in unfathomable agony so painful it scarred the Force around them. It seemed to him to be the center of this temple, and he wondered what could be there, for the Force would not be so warped had this only been a single occurrence. He debated asking his guide about it, but he was blind to the Force. He could not feel it.

He decided on another topic. “What do I address you as? Are you Sith?”

“Not like you will be,” he answered neutrally, not looking back, “I am the Hand of Darth Timoris. Her will, weapon, and spymaster. She is Sith, I am merely a favored instrument of her power.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow. Times certainly had changed for the Sith if they considered non-Force-users so valuable. Or perhaps this was considered an insult, sending such a person to greet him instead of a full Sith. Perhaps that was a right he had to earn. But for now, he would go with the assumption that the Sith had dropped the worst of their prejudice for those who could not feel the Force.

“Impressive title,” he said, “but do you have a name?”

A notable hesitation as the Hand considered his answer, or if he should give one. “Lehon Sethun.”

Well, it was a good start from what he could tell. “A pleasure to meet you.” He nodded, even knowing that the man wouldn’t see it. Force of habit. “So, I suppose you’re my… guide?”

“No,” the answer was curt, “You will have Sith instructors.”

“Ah,” he understood, “You’re to take me to my quarters?”

“Not yet,” the Hand seemed to allow just the barest hint of amusement color his voice, “Your situation is unique, given your history. Most who come here… their training begins immediately, and I do as you believe. But you, Alexander… I am taking you to my Master now. Darth Timoris herself wishes to evaluate you.”

The name was unfamiliar. He couldn’t blame her for wanting to be sure, but he couldn’t say he was thrilled with the idea of a one-on-one conversation with someone he had no idea of who she was. She could very well be the administrator for the Academy.

It would be his first meeting with a Sith Lord.

He supposed now he would know just how truthful Cailan had been when he’d brought him into his little secret. If he’d been telling the truth… this was likely not going to be pleasant, but he’d do fine. If he’d been lying… well, then he was probably not going to come out of this meeting alive.

Alexander did not scare easily. He did not become easily disturbed. His previous work with the worst of the galaxy from the lowest scum on Coruscant to the ghouls which infested the Senate had seen to that. There was little that could shake or stun him anymore.

Yet the moment he crossed some invisible threshold, something changed.

It began slowly, softly. A feeling that he only absentmindedly noticed as they approached the chambers of Darth Timoris. His hands felt warm, an odd sensation in the frigid temple, and he stripped the gloves off to see hands slick with sweat. While not exposed to the elements, the temple was still possessed of a cold, leeching off the stones.

He placed a hand to his forehead and inexplicably felt the skin slick as the sweat chilled moments after it appeared. His hands were clammy and the closer they got, the warmer he became, to the point that it was uncomfortable and he was considering discarding some of his garments. His normally calm heart was beating with thuds that thundered in his ears, drowning out the outside world.

The Hand of Timoris said something Alexander only barely understood and uttered an immediately forgotten reply. But he knew that something was very, very wrong. Now, standing in the presence of the Dark Lord herself, he was wishing that sweaty hands and uncomfortable warmth was all it was.

He felt like he was going to die.

His vision kept blurring as tears welled up in his eyes, not out of pain or emotion, but because his body was reacting to the Sith standing before him. There was no other explanation. His heart sounded louder and louder, yet instead of a racing heartbeat, it was ever so slightly growing slower and his breath became short and shaky as he could swear there were invisible bands around his chest, squeezing the breath from his body.

Slight tremors wracked his body, shaking his normally steady hands; shivering not from the cold, but from a deep and primal terror that gripped his heart that he rationally knew he shouldn’t feel. Every single corpse, abused slave, science experiment gone wrong leapt to the front of his mind in vicious, gory detail. Everything he had wanted to forget was called into his mind making him want to scream.

But he couldn’t. Not here.

His stomach churned and threatened to revolt. He had not eaten prior to coming here, which was likely a fortunate decision, yet his throat still clenched, and he wanted nothing more than to keel over and empty the bile festering in his stomach, and even now, he had to concentrate to keep it from coming up.

The Force, so long an ally he could call upon, was impossible to grasp now. Not because it was gone, but because his power was nowhere near that which emanated from the woman who so effortlessly warped the Force around her, twisting it into what he was feeling with every aspect of his being.

And the more he tried to fight it, the stronger the feeling became, as it perverted his feeble attempts to strengthen himself and doubled the agony he was feeling with a coldly malevolent presence. The Force within the vicinity of Darth Timoris served her, and only her. Anything else would be purged or tainted.

Such power. There was one lesson from the Jedi which he should have always kept in the back of his mind, because it was one of the few that were universally true.

Size matters not.

The woman who was a Dark Lord of the Sith was small, petite even. She stood a full head shorter than himself and wore a simple black tunic with matching robes over it – each patterned with embroidered glyphs. Her hands were encased in simple black gloves, and she wore basic boots and leggings. Only two aspects stood out about her: the lightsaber at her waist, and the helm that obscured her face.

The lightsaber was little more than a long silver cylinder at first glance, though he somehow noticed through watery eyes that there was writing on the hilt. Not aurebesh, but some other kind of writing not in any language he knew – not Huttese, Cheunh, or even old Sithese. Maybe it wasn’t writing at all, but just symbols. Were they the same glyphs on her robes? It likely didn’t matter.

He wondered how much of his uncertainty and fear he was feeling was evoked from the helm she wore. A silver mask, it covered her face completely, with solid metal where eyes should be, as well as no mouth. The mesh on the lower cheeks may have been used for respiration, but he heard no sound coming from them.

He had no idea who could be behind the mask. It could be human or alien, beautiful or horrifying; it was unknowable and set his mind furiously racing, encouraged by the tainted aura around her. Ironically though, it was the mask which he latched onto as his focal point, to keep himself focused.

“Sit.” She motioned to a long black table with empty chairs; the only piece of furniture in the room itself. A Sith holocron sat in the middle, glowing malevolently with red power.

He complied, moving slowly and carefully so as not to accidentally throw up on her. He sat down, not exactly with grace, but he didn’t trip over himself even as he clasped his clammy hands together to keep them from shaking. He kept trying to obscure the tremors affecting his body.

She waited some long moments, looking down on him and he dared not look up to her. A few seconds later she sat down across from him, resting her hands on the table. “Do you know where you are?”

Her voice was like the rest of this planet, cold and calm – reinforced by the slight mechanical rasp of her helmet – yet with something lurking underneath the cordiality. Were it not belonging to this woman, and with how he was feeling, he would have even described it as pleasant, though she had no identifiable accent.

“Sadow.” He swallowed, trying to make sure his voice didn’t crack from the dryness that infected it. “That was the name given to me. The Sith Academy of Sadow.”

A slight nod of the helmet. “And they told you nothing else?”

“No, my Lord.”

She turned a hand over and the lightsaber on his belt flew to hover over her palm. It ignited with a blade the color of the sky, humming in the silence, though Timoris never grasped the hilt itself. Instead, she appeared more interested in the lightsaber’s construction rather than the quality of its blade. “I’m told you are not a Jedi, yet you carry a lightsaber all the same. Curious.”

“Not a Jedi anymore, my Lord,” he quickly corrected, “I was at one point.”

“The Jedi do not let their own go easily,” she noted, “Especially not you.”

He clamped his mouth shut to keep it from chattering and gave a firm nod. “They were more interested in it not becoming a scandal.”

“And you agreed.”

“Out of necessity, my Lord,” he answered, still feeling some shame at how he had… well… let the Jedi intimidate him so easily, “I am certain the Jedi would have ensured I be silenced had I not.”

“You were a Padawan who saw the wrong thing at the wrong time,” Timoris’s words were emotionless and firm, “It is irrelevant. Your actions alone are not what I desire to know. I want to know why.” The lightsaber shut off and rested on the table before him, as she laced her gloved fingers together. “I want to know what has led Alexander Solo to the Sith. Tell me your story, we have time.”

In truth, it didn’t matter how much or little time was permitted, he knew she was going to want his life story and clearing his throat and pushing down the bile once more, he began to talk, trying to ignore the ever-slowing heartbeat that thudded in his ears.

He talked for what felt like hours, and over time… the aura which permeated the air became more bearable. With something to focus on, particularly the silver helmet of Timoris, the worst of his symptoms could be forcefully ignored. He stumbled over his words a few times; talking in halting sentences and having to stop when he became lightheaded from his constricting chest, but those eventually faded into the background.

Timoris just sat and listened. She only asked questions when he reached the end of part of his story, mostly prodding his rationalizations or thought processes, which were more difficult to process given his overstimulated brain, but he nonetheless wracked his brain to give answers. At no point could he determine what the Sith Lord was thinking or feeling.

But he was acutely aware of the fact that she was prodding his brain directly. Telepathy was a usage of the Force that only a few could reliably tap into, but she did so effortlessly and the cold weight of her own mind against his – capturing every stray thought and emotion – proved almost to be more of a help than something he was apprehensive of.

Any sense of stability was better than none at all.

Eventually, he finished – and waited.

He didn’t quite know what to expect, or even what he should be wanting from her. Was he being analyzed for potential weaknesses? Was his history an issue? Was she merely curious? He realized that he really should be asking the question as to why Timoris had scoured his soul – and had he been thinking with any degree of clarity, he probably would have.

Then again, what was he going to do? Say ‘no’?

“Your reliability is not in question,” Timoris finally said, “You would not have been permitted here otherwise. You would not have learned that the Sith survive and thrive. No. I am speaking to you now because of suspicions I had when my agents were watching you.”

The revelation was not surprising to him at all. In retrospect, he wondered how long they had been shadowing him. “Suspicions as to what?”

“To your place here.” She rested her hands flat against the table. “We can determine with a high degree of accuracy what Order one will fit into best in the Sith. There are many, each espousing and following the teachings of Sith of legend and history. Individuals are drawn to particular Orders based upon a variety of psychological factors and histories. I specialize in this, as do many of my people. We rarely make mistakes.”

She ever so slightly turned her head. “Yet you… you do not so easily fit into the molds which exist. Our conversation has affirmed this, and I have confirmation of your strength and potential – and that your training is indeed unfinished.”

He just blinked in some disbelief. How anyone could think he had strength and potential when he struggled merely to recount his life was questionable – though he also got the sense that Timoris did not give empty compliments to make people feel better. “Thank you, my Lord.”

Timoris appraised him for a few moments, and stood quietly, removing one glove revealing flawless pale skin – likely a human then – as she walked around the end of the table until she was looking down on him. With her exposed hand she lightly pinched his sweat-slicked face with two ice-cold fingers and turned his head to look up at her. “Look at me.”

Not having any other choice, he simply complied.

“I am not ignorant as to your feelings now, much as you attempt to hide it. It is natural, as your body reacts to the dark side and I who command it. The dark side does not tolerate those who cannot handle the power. It destroys them. It does not cast them out or ignore them. Those who cannot endure the power will be purged. The rest will be tainted.”

Had the mask had eyes, he would be looking up at them now. “One week ago, a Jedi Scout was brought before me, one who wandered too close to us and whose disappearance could be easily explained away. A Jedi whose mind was weak and susceptible. She endured one day before me, her body failing as she coughed blood and bile in her cell, and her mind raced with apparitions and hallucinations of terrors only she could comprehend.”

Her voice held him in a trance as she continued. “She soon begged and pleaded to end her life, swearing to tell me anything if only the horrors she saw and felt were gone. And so, I gave her what she wanted. I removed her eyes and ears, and all that was left was her tongue, and until she finally expired hours later, she screamed everything she knew; everything that came to mind in between her pleas for mercy even as her heart slowed and her blood boiled. No…”

She trailed off briefly, and let go of his chin. “You possess an innate will, otherwise you would have died as we spoke. Your command of the Force, while clumsy and unrefined, shows potential remaining from your training.” The glove she left on the table returned to her hand and she covered it up once more.

“There is precedent for those like you, who do not notably fit in the framework which currently exists,” she continued, walking to a shelf which contained old physical books, scrolls, and tablets, “I suspect that reading this will clarify the path you wish to take. Read it and begin your training.”

She returned to him with a small tome, with black binding and no title. He took it carefully and stood. “Thank you, my Lord.”

She motioned to something behind him. “My Hand will show you to your quarters. I believe we will speak again.”

Behind him, Lehon stepped forward as Alexander blinked. Had he been there the whole time? Obviously, and he didn’t know how he was able to endure the aura of Timoris so calmly – in fact, it didn’t look like the man was even remotely affected.

“This way, Alexander,” he said, motioning to the door and he walked toward it, allowing a sigh of relief that this was almost over. Every step taken away from the Sith Lord was one where he could physically feel his body returning to normal.

Lehon said nothing as they walked. Thoroughly drained, Alexander had no desire for conversations or talking – later he might seek out the Hand and ask some questions. But not yet; not until he had recovered to an acceptable degree. He eventually arrived at his quarters, which were small and plain, with only a bed, small wardrobe, and bookshelf.

“Refreshers are down the hallway,” Lehon said, stepping back, “Are there any questions?”

“No.” Alexander shook his head. “Actually… yes. When am I expected tomorrow?”

“Training grounds at 0900,” Lehon answered immediately, “The center of the Academy. You will find your way easily enough. The Instructors will provide you with what you need.”

“Then that’s all.” He nodded. “Thank you.”

“Sleep well,” was all Lehon said, “You’ll need it for tomorrow.”

At that, he closed the door, and Alexander walked to the edge of the bed and sat down. He would prepare to rest later, but for now, a curiosity about the tome in his hands captured his attention. He would rest in time, but for now, he would learn more about the Order he was set to join.

So, he opened the tome, and began to read.

https://www.deviantart.com/isbjorg/art/Commission-Sith-829609979

Chapter Text

SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

ON TRUTH, POWER, AND EVOLUTION – A NEW ERA OF THE SITH

A WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Our kind have histories in darkness, secrecy, and mystery. It is how we have thrived. It is how we have survived. It is how we have grown strong. All these concepts and tools have their place.

But this is not the place for them.

I write these words; these truths for you. For if you hold a bound tome in your hands, listening from my holocron, or are reading it on a modern datapad, you have proven to someone that you are worthy of being here. We do not suffer the stupid, shackled, or limited of body or mind. Yet if you are reading these words, you have also been deemed to be confused or conflicted.

Our goals seem contradictory or elusive; our structure abstract and unknown; our philosophies clashing as an air of danger surrounds the members. You do not know your place; you do not know your purpose. You have been found wanting; an empty vessel of power unsure where to direct yourself.

I shall reassure you, reader, that this is unsurprising and anticipated. It is why I was directed by my Mistress to write this – to educate you on the Sith. To reveal to you our secrets, to demonstrate the breadth of our knowledge and power. But also, to challenge your preconceptions of what it means to be Sith. To destroy and shatter your beliefs, the arrogance you no doubt possess.

A Sith inherently believes the galaxy shall bend to their will, and that all are subservient to their will. This attitude is good, it demonstrates your ambition. Your willingness to accept and command the power you hold.

Yet you are nothing here now and many who read this will never be anything more. You will languish in subservience or die to the stronger. You will fail to evolve. You will fail to grow. You will die a failure.

Do you feel angry at this moment? Insulted by the words I write, these truths?

Good .

Let that be your first lesson within the academy you train in; as you learn under the old Masters.

You are nothing, and are entitled to nothing. Everything must be earned or taken.

I am merely an archivist to Lady Vathila; a historian who knows more about the history of this galaxy than any who are alive today. I have seen thousands of ambitious hopefuls enter our Order and receive the tome you may hold in your hands. I have seen many ascend and claim the power which is theirs by right.

I have seen far more die, or worse – fail to fulfill their potential.

But let me show what I know about you. They are all the same; only a very specific individual finds themselves reading these words now. You have awoken to the power which is inside you; the power which you command. You rightfully wish to impress your will upon the galaxy. Perhaps you sought teachers, and asked questions which their limited traditions and knowledge could not answer.

You left; left or were cast out. Perhaps even hunted because such teachers feared your potential and power. It does not matter, because you were found – or led – to the place you are today. The place where you belong, for no Sith can ever be accepted in the galaxy for what they are. We will always be hated, hunted, and feared by the lesser beings of this galaxy – by the jealous.

Understand this second truth.

A Sith is incapable of finding solace and sanctuary within the galaxy – a Sith must forge it for themselves or amongst their kind.

Sith, reader, regardless of the philosophies they follow, are united in a singular understanding – the pursuit of power. Most cannot understand the justification for such, and a few that do, ultimately reject it as valid. Sith understand. Sith do not always agree, nor should they, but they understand.

If they do not – they are not Sith, but merely pretenders. This is the third truth I shall impart to you.

To be a Sith is to grasp the power which is rightfully yours through any means possible. To reject this truth is to reject what it means to be Sith.

This is a truth any Sith instinctively knows.

It is what you know, reader, else you would not be here.

But you have questions. You see the Sith around you and do not know what to do, where to go. You do not know fully what you believe. There are many, many teachings and philosophies of the Sith, and unlike the blind Jedi, we do not hide those who have forged their own paths and pursued power as they saw fit.

Such individuals embody what it means to be Sith.

You will read the teachings of the Orders, and you will intrinsically be drawn to one of them; their words will resonate with you; their beliefs and philosophies will validate what you have always known to be true. I do not cast judgement on such decisions, nor will I promote one above all else. You would be a fool to think of me as unbiased, but I have learned enough to realize that – for now – there is no truly superior philosophy; there will not be one until the galaxy is completely within the grasp of a Sith – and stays in their grasp for all time.

The ultimate path to power has yet to be realized. Perhaps you will be the one to do so, or even forge your own unique path to power.

Most likely not.

Let us begin.

ON TITLES AND MODES OF ADDRESS

You are now in the presence of Sith, and your respect for them is due. They have earned their place within these walls, as you will earn yours. You need not fear accidentally addressing a Sith, as there are only two types of ranks who walk these halls – the Masters and students. The students are easily identifiable, and should it not become apparent, I will detail the various ranks and positions within each Sith Order.

Sith are easily identifiable unless they deliberately obscure themselves or hide their identities. While not uncommon, one is unlikely to be punished for failing to address a full Lord of the Sith should they be in disguise. Although I should note that in some initiation rituals, perception and deceit play a role, so merely consider your circumstances and keep your wits about you.

Right now, you have no protection.

You are expected to address your peers by their proper title, be it Acolyte, Initiate, or Apprentice. Only Lords of the Sith have authority over life and death as it applies to students outside their own Orders – if you attempt to remove those who you consider rivals or enemies through lethal force, you will be summarily executed and made an example of.

We will not fall victim to the mistakes the Sith have made in the past. Our enemy is the Jedi, and fighting amongst ourselves will only ensure we are set back another thousand years.

For full Sith, the title of ‘Lord’ is acceptable for all Sith. Some may prefer to bear the prefix of ‘Darth’ in place of ‘Lord,’ while those who choose the latter title will usually refuse to acknowledge the ‘Darth’ title. The title of ‘Lady’ for female Sith is also acceptable should they wish to be addressed as such. Some Sith may forgo a title altogether, and may solely be addressed by their name, or a title of their own choosing. The title ‘Dark Lord/Lady of the Sith’ is rarely used but not unheard of – it has connotations of dominance within the Sith hierarchy and is often used as a challenge to a Lord’s peers.

There are no special rules, restrictions, or traditions that need be followed. A Sith is free to choose their own title and many often take a new name when they claim the title of Sith Lord. This, of course, is not required, but it is something any initiate should consider as they proceed through their training and development.

Tradition is respected within our Order, but we do not bind ourselves to it at the expense of personal choice. Any individual who states otherwise is lying – or testing you. A Sith does what they please – within reason at this juncture – and this applies to how we choose to identify ourselves.

ON OUR FOUNDATIONS

The pillars of our Collective are the Orders of Sith. Historically, there have been hundreds of thousands of Sith, and of that number, individuals emerge which make their mark on the history of the galaxy itself. You might know some of the names. Sidious, Bane, Krayt, and yet each of these individuals distinguishes themselves from each other beyond mere accomplishments.

They are Sith who have not allowed the past to constrain them and have forged a new path, a new understanding of what it means to be Sith. They sought, fought for, and acquired power. They had vision. They had purpose. They achieved great things, and yet eventually they were defeated, either by their enemies or betrayed by their own.

It is essential, reader, that you understand that the Sith are diverse. This is a strength. The Jedi are a homogenous body that can never truly evolve or develop; the brilliant and powerful are forever constrained by the rigid principles and structure of their Order. A Jedi will usually only have a limited understanding of the Force, and those who explore beyond the confines of the Order, beyond the rules?

They are forbidden; they are cast out; rejected.

The Jedi cannot grow.

Yet is every new development, every new understanding by a radical Sith Lord an advancement? Is it superior?

No. But it does not have to be. Ideas spread; they can be refined; adapted. They can be explored to their fullest potential. They are, as all things are, a path to power.

This is embodied in the Orders of Sith. Unlike the previous incarnations of our Order, we reject the notion that there is one true path for Sith to follow. One single philosophy. By the wisdom of my Mistress, Lady Vathila, we understand that the enemy of the Sith should not be ourselves – but the Jedi. A house divided and plotting to destroy itself cannot stand, regardless of the strength of its members.

Look throughout history. Look to the past of the Sith. How many defeats have not come from the Jedi, from the Republic, from the Alliance? How many have come from another Sith? Yet is this to reject the belief that weakness should not be tolerated? Is it to say that we are all equal within this Collective?

By no means .

But let the conflicts between our kind come when our greatest enemy is purged from the galaxy, along with all those who follow. Also consider, reader, that such perceptions and purity tests are subjective. What is a weakness for one individual may be a strength for another. What is heresy for one may be the absolute truth for another.

What makes one Sith?

Hold this question in your mind, reader. I will return to it shortly.

There are some fundamentals one must understand about the Orders of Sith. There are thirteen which have been recognized, and each Order is organized around the teachings and philosophies of a certain Sith. There are no requirements that they be living or dead, though at this moment the only Order centered around the wisdom and teachings of a living individual is the Order of Lady Vathila.

There is no arbitrary limit of Orders which can exist in our Sith Collective. More can be added. Others can be removed. All that matters is that the followers prove that what they have learned and follow is worthy of respect and a legitimate path to power. It is not expected that the Orders be friendly or even allied to each other, as the teachings of certain Sith contradict the teachings of others.

This is allowed. But as of this point, it does not matter. The Jedi are the enemy we seek to defeat, and until that day comes, we will not turn against one another. For there is only one rule the Orders are bound to until this requirement is achieved. One rule all Sith obey without question.

No Order of the Sith shall attack, plot against, eliminate, or target the individuals, organization, or resources of another Order upon the pain of eternal torment.

When the Jedi are dead; when their allies are scattered and hunted; when the galaxy can be reshaped by the hands of the Sith – only then will this rule be dissolved, and the Order who is superior will emerge from the fire and control the galaxy – and beyond it – until the end of time.

Do you doubt our resolve? Our commitment to this rule?

Yes, of course you do. We are Sith after all; betrayal is in our blood; it is in our past. A betrayal of such magnitude would merely instigate the civil war that awaits our Collective, it would be the spark which brings our kind down once more.

I do not blame you for thinking as you do. It is not as though there is no precedent for these actions.

Doubt no longer.

Walk, reader, put down this tome or datapad, shut off this holocron, and go walk. Walk and listen. For some once thought as you did, there were those who doubted the plan; the wisdom of Lady Vathila and believed they alone were destined to destroy the Jedi and rule the galaxy. They attempted to strike many of the other Orders.

Some succeeded. Some killed Sith Lords who were not expecting such brazen betrayal. Should they have been better prepared?

Perhaps, but not yet. Not while the Jedi still live.

It is time we discuss a matter you will no doubt have noticed – or will notice in the coming days.

ON DARTH BANE AND THE RULE OF TWO

Darth Bane is a complex subject as it relates to the Sith, reader, for multiple reasons. None can deny the impact he has had on the Sith and indeed many of his beliefs and philosophies have not only been shared by many Sith for thousands of years, but are worth examining and debating in their entirety.

Many arguments have been put forth in support and rejection of the Rule of Two. Arguments which persist to this very day, and one would expect this Collective of Sith to have perhaps an Order of members who follow the tenets of Bane and his disciples.

I do not blame you; such is a reasonable expectation.

Those who read may perhaps yet wonder, pondering how one can reconcile the harsh and direct demands of the Rule of Two – with a Collective of Sith numbering far greater than the paltry number proposed. For there is no ambiguity, no complexity when one reads the words of Bane which have persisted through the ages.

Two there shall be. No more, no less. One to embody the power, the other to crave it.

Through this, Bane believed, it would ensure that the Sith continually grew stronger and stronger; it would ensure that they would not be undone by those weaker and lesser than them; ones who did not deserve such power and influence. It would allow the Sith to conserve their strength, adapt, and hide in the darkness while they grew in power, the Jedi ever ignorant as to their true identities and influence.

Yet we must ask – is such a belief sound? Is Bane as infallible as so many believe?

The answer is complex.

It is important to understand that the Rule of Two is sound – when it works.

The Rule of Two is fundamentally flawed, and relies on it being followed expressly in the way Darth Bane envisioned it. Should both Master and Apprentice do so, the Sith will indeed grow stronger and stronger – from a certain point of view.

Had they not followed the tenants of the Rule of Two as Bane envisioned, the Sith could have easily destroyed themselves.

It is a question of what we define as strength, what we define as power. Is the art of dueling worth more than mastery over the arcane arts of the Force? Is brawn more useful than limited physical strength yet holding much cunning? Is Sith Sorcery more powerful than brutal applications of telekinesis? Is Sith science more valuable than artifact recovery and mastery?

Such questions Bane did not answer, and in truth, there can be no definitive answer for what ‘strength’ the Sith should seek.

The Rule of Two also failed to take into account the vindictive, prideful, and selfish nature of our kind. It assumes an honor that history shows few Sith possess. Do the Sith truly become stronger when the Apprentices kill the Masters through poison and in their sleep? Does the method of execution even matter so long as it is carried out? Does it matter when it takes place, or is any point acceptable? Is it cowardice or intelligence if an Apprentice strikes when the Master displays visible ailments?

Bane clearly expected the Apprentice to defeat the Master without ambiguity, without resorting to such backhanded tactics. One must wonder how well he knew the Sith if he expected such to be the norm. Perhaps he expected such to be instilled through training and the guidance of the Master, yet the Rule of Two ensured there could be no more than the Master and Apprentice – and so they exclusively held all the history and knowledge of the Sith.

Knowledge which can take root in curious minds.

Make them question.

Make them wonder.

There is little arguing that the Rule of Two was necessary, as it ensured the survival of the Sith for a thousand years. Yet to continue to adhere to such in the modern age – when the fear of extinction no longer hangs over our kind – is questionable.

I will return to the earlier posed question – how can the Rule of Two coexist with our Sith Collective?

It cannot.

This is not to say there were not attempts, as indeed there once existed an Order of Darth Bane, a small group of Sith who sought to follow his teachings. Lady Vathila noted the issues and incompatibilities such beliefs had with the Sith Collective, yet nonetheless agreed to allow the Order to be founded under the express promise that they would adhere to the One Rule without question, and keep any internal conflicts to themselves.

Was this a foolish gesture? Should such have been permitted?

It is not my place to say, yet all here deserve a chance to prove themselves. The followers of Bane were no different.

Yet the truth became apparent. The Rule of Two is simply incompatible with the Sith Collective. Within months, the Order of Bane grew, then shrank, then grew again as their members fell to their own hand. Did they grow stronger? In ways, most certainly, but certainly not to the extent as to pose a threat.

They despised the other Orders, barely holding in sneers at those they considered fools and false Sith, who believed things such as numbers and discredited philosophies would inevitably doom the Sith. Indeed, they viewed us as traitors, us as weak, us as unworthy of being called Sith even as they killed their own.

It is impossible to say what the final breaking point was. It ultimately matters little, as the Order of Bane struck the Sith in the dead of night without warning or mercy, determined to put down the ‘pretender Sith.’ Many Sith died that night – Masters, Apprentices, powerful and weak. If nothing else, the Order of Bane proved that they were not completely without merit. Yet their hubris was such that they underestimated the might of the Collective; the wrath of Lady Vathila and the Enforcers of Marka Ragnos.

They waged rebellion and paid the price of breaking the One Rule.

Did you go for a walk, reader?

No?

Get up .

Did you listen? Do you hear the cries; the screams?

No?

Keep walking .

Listen .

Walk to the training grounds, or if you happen to be where our greatest are, to the Council Chambers. You will soon hear the screams of these Sith who dared break our Collective apart. Who struck against Lady Vathila and the other Masters of the Sith. Death, reader, death is too quick and good for such fools whose self-destructive natures could have doomed the Sith for another thousand years.

They are stored in cases under the ground, trapped in cases made of diamond and transparisteel, their faces and bodies are exposed to those who walk above, and at the whim of the Sith we can hear their screams as they are tortured day and night, kept alive due to the ingenious work of many Sith. Through old Sith Alchemy and Magic, advanced nanotechnology and engineering, these traitors will be continuously brought to the brink of death over and over again.

The Order of Bane serves as a lesson to any who would dare weaken our Collective whilst our greatest enemy still lives.

Never doubt our resolve. Never doubt our wrath.

ON THE ORDERS OF SITH

With this bit of history done, I will give a brief overview of the Orders of Sith. If you are frustrated by the lack of detail, fear not, for each following chapter will cover each Order in detail. This is merely to acquaint yourself with the pillars that make up the Sith. Perhaps you may even be drawn to one now. Do not be surprised if this is the case.

I have arranged the list of Orders in aurebeshical order. Do not assume that this is a reflection on their power, skill, or anything resembling an actual rank.

The Order of Emperor Jadus : A Sith whose name evokes respect, fear, and awe from the few who knew about him, Jadus was among the most enigmatic and mysterious of Vitiate’s Sith Empire. These views now recovered: on the application of terror, hatred, the Force, the Force-blind, and more are highly atypical of Sith of the past – or today. Methodical, brilliant, and terrifying as he once manipulated an entire Empire and briefly assumed control, Jadus was a figure larger than life even among the Sith, and now his followers continue his legacy. They are made up of spies, intelligence operatives, psychologists, and interrogators. They are feared with good reason, yet are among the closest allies of Lady Vathila.

The Order of Lord Kaan : While some Sith saw the Jedi as something to be eradicated and never imitated, others decided to take the strengths of the Jedi Order and turn them into their own. This was the result of Skere Kaan, a former Jedi who left the Order in disgust to form the Brotherhood of Darkness, which was to be a Jedi Order without the fear that held the Jedi back. Through his efforts, the Sith quickly regrew their numbers and grew strong enough to bring the Republic to its knees. The philosophies and beliefs of Kaan, once dismissed by later Sith, have resurged largely thanks to disaffected Jedi who joined our Collective but found no Orders that satisfied their beliefs. The members of this remade Brotherhood are exclusive, paranoid, but above all else, loyal to each other – for they have not forgotten the betrayal of Darth Bane which ensured their downfall.

The Order of Darth Krayt : The rise of Darth Krayt, and one of the most recent Sith in galactic history, have played a significant role in the resurgence of the Sith and the spreading of our teachings. Seeing weakness in the limited numbers of the Sith, Krayt corrected that weakness by forming the One Sith, though unlike Lord Kaan, he did not make it into a dark mirror of the Jedi Order, but an organization with a supreme leader: himself. The One Sith – despite their defeat at Jedi hands and later fracturing during the Third Imperial Civil War – still endures, and many have found their way back to us, and want little more than to avenge their previous defeats by wiping out the Jedi once and for all. They share a joined history with the Order of Snoke, as a faction within the One Sith once allied with his forces in his attempt to conquer the Empire, and to this day, these Orders are among the strongest of allies.

The Order of Darth Nihilus : The power that the ‘Lord of Hunger’ once commanded has only been matched by a handful of Sith, and most certainly not in the manner he wielded it. A wound in the Force, he was unique among Sith and it was only through the actions of another wound that he was defeated. An enigmatic and shrouded figure for his legend, going so far as to speak an archaic dialect of Sithese that was only understood by his most devout disciples and encoded his true beliefs in hidden holocrons and texts.

However, the mysteries of Darth Nihilus are slowly but surely being brought to light, as those within his Order work tirelessly to translate the collection of artifacts, holocrons, and texts created and written by Nihilus himself. Ancient secrets of the Sith Assassins have once more been discovered and the Order of Nihilus commands a deadly shadow army – though their most important task is completing the work that Nihilus began – the research on the wounds of the Force – and how to manipulate them.

The Order of Darth Nox : The legend of Darth Nox is an inspiring one for all Sith – the story of how the lowest slave became one of the most powerful Sith Lords the galaxy has known. A master of harnessing the spirits of Jedi and Sith to her will, as well as the arcane arts, her own followers have been scattered and in hiding for thousands of years, and have finally rejoined the Sith proper. A small collection of families whose bloodlines can be traced back to Nox herself, they are proud, exclusive – and powerful. One may enter their Order, but only if they pass rituals of the most lethal nature.

The Order of Emperor Palpatine : The culmination of the Rule of Two, Palpatine – more properly known as Darth Sidious – was the first Sith in millennia to achieve control over the whole of the galaxy. A master manipulator and political savant, his maneuvering during the Clone Wars was nothing short of masterful, and all achieved without defeating an enemy in a lightsaber duel. Few in the galaxy even knew his true heritage as a Sith, and they didn’t need to either. The members of this Order follow in this legacy by pulling strings and hiding in plain sight. Politicians, businessmen, and psychologists are all members, and their influence only continues to grow in the galaxy with the blind Jedi none the wiser.

The Order of Darth Plagueis : While many may be aware of the ‘Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise,’ what many often forget is that Plagueis was perhaps the greatest Sith alchemist and scientist since the days of the Sith Empire. His works on the nature of the Force and the thousands of experiments he conducted are still utilized today, and the members of this Order continue this work to discover the secrets the Force has kept hidden from us. Doctors, scientists, geneticists, and zoologists all apply their knowledge in this pursuit.

The Order of Marka Ragnos : One of the oldest Sith, and among the most powerful, it was Marka Ragnos who was responsible for shaping the Sith into what they later became, and indeed, into what the Sith are today. Only Bane himself can claim a similar legacy. A master of manipulating the power struggles between his rivals in the Sith Empire while maintaining power, he held such sway over the Sith in life and death such that even today his presence still endures as his will shapes the Order once more arisen in his name – and employs those within it to serve the Sith to their fullest abilities. It is the Order of Ragnos which remains vigilant for betrayal and deception within our Collective, preventing the plotting which has brought us down so many times before; it is they who ensure that we stand united in our goal of eliminating the Jedi once and for all – and that our conquest of the galaxy is without flaw.

The Order of Darth Revan : Hero, villain, conqueror, savior, Revan played all roles of significance one can in the galaxy. Jedi for much of his life, Sith for another, and of the many individuals who have lived, he held a unique perspective. That he returned to the Jedi later in his life does not render the beliefs he expressed and wrote as a Sith null and void. Indeed, Revan had a unique view on the Sith and the Force. A wider view than the traditional light and dark both the Jedi and Sith have traditionally bound themselves to. The members of this Order do not limit themselves to just his teachings as a Sith either – there is something they realize about his flirtation with all sides of the Force, and they perhaps understand a fundamental truth of what it means to be Sith better than other Orders.

The Order of Supreme Leader Snoke : Is it fair to confer such a legacy to a man who did not explicitly identify as a Sith? Indeed it is, for Supreme Leader Snoke embodied what it is to be Sith even if he never publicly acknowledged it as such. There are few individuals in the galaxy who were as skilled in the telepathic aspects of the Force as Snoke, and that was the means by which he grew his army and nearly conquered the galaxy. Such loyalty he commanded – forced or not – is worthy of emulation and respect, as his followers contribute today – many of whom come from the remnants of the First Order. Despite the former members of the One Sith creating their own Order instead of joining with the Order of Snoke, the Order of Krayt is one of their strongest allies – as they did not forget when remnants of the One Sith willingly emerged to join forces with the Knights of Ren. Despite their joined failure, it was only the One Sith who were their allies at such a crucial time – not the Sith as a whole.

The Order of Darth Traya : Once a member of the Sith Triumvirate, the self-titled ‘Queen of Betrayal’ was quite the unique individual, in that like Revan, she continuously walked the line between the Jedi and Sith, the light and the dark. Her opinions and beliefs on the nature of the Force, as well as critiques of the Jedi and Sith are memorable and compelling enough for individuals to follow them. This Order is indeed more philosophical in nature compared to some others, though I would be remiss if I did not mention that the words of Darth Traya certainly had an influence on Lady Vathila when she was forging the Sith into what they are today, and the Order serves as one of her strongest allies in our Collective.

The Order of Lady Vathila : The greatest and most powerful Sith in recent memory, Lady Vathila is the reason that the Sith will once more rule the galaxy – this time forever. It is through her iron will and wisdom that the Sith have abandoned the heavy shackles of our past in favor of evolution. It is through her foresight and intelligence that the Jedi and their allies will fall and the galaxy will collapse. And it will be she who controls this galaxy when it is purged through fire and blood. The members of her Order are many and faithful, her children and Apprentices alike. While her Order does not rule, it leads the Sith to victory, and through victory our chains will be broken.

The Order of Emperor Vitiate : Some Sith aspire to rule an Empire, others a galaxy, still more desire godhood. Vitiate would not be satisfied with merely being an emperor, it was not enough to satisfy his ambition. No, he would soon rule over this galaxy and all others. Life itself would become subservient to his will; it would be created and destroyed at his whim. Such aspirations cannot help but be commended, and there were instances where he very nearly succeeded in achieving power beyond what any Jedi or Sith has ever achieved. His followers seek to do the same, and rule as deities over an enslaved – or dead – galaxy. We shall see if they ultimately succeed.

ON THE HIGH COUNCIL OF THE SITH

As there are so many different ideologies and interests represented within the Sith that it requires some kind of management apparatus. The Sith Collective is far too large to be managed solely by one or few individuals, and as such the High Council of the Sith was formed. In function, it resembles the Dark Council of the old Sith Empire, or Kaan’s Brotherhood of Darkness.

But there is an important distinction to make – the High Council exists largely as a means of coordination between the various Orders and makes decisions which affect the Sith as a whole. No Sith Order would dream of telling another Order how to conduct themselves or dictate their commands. All that matters is that there are no overlapping operations and all pertinent information is shared.

In this way, the Orders of the Sith are free to conduct operations as they see fit and ensure that the Sith are continuously informed of new developments. Larger plans and offensives can be developed, as well as suggestions made between Orders to leverage their unique talents. But one might ask, who commands the High Council?

A question which should have a clear answer. Our Collective relies upon mutual cooperation and respect between the Orders. One cannot be above another and maintain the illusion that all are equally of merit. Each Order has the same degree of influence and votes as others – even that of Lady Vathila. As the founder of this Collective, it is hardly surprising that the Orders take her opinions into account before reaching significant decisions. While her approval – or lack thereof – is not required, many first seek her blessing if for no other reason than to show respect and deference to one who has brought the Sith back from the brink of collapse. But it is no strenuous task, for Lady Vathila, in her eternal wisdom, is open to ideas and plans from other Orders, and is more than willing to employ creative and experimental tools and ideas in service of the Sith. In the end, this is the only quality she cares about, as that which strengthens our power ensures our ultimate success.

Who sits upon the seats of the High Council is largely irrelevant. They speak for their Order, and can be removed, changed, or rotated as needed by the Order in question. Some Orders rotate representatives each year, others are appointed for life. It merely depends on the Order in question, and, as mentioned earlier, as the High Council is more responsible for management, it is a role most Sith can fulfill with little difficulty.

I will list the names of the current members of the High Council, though I will not expand upon them here. These individuals will be greatly elaborated upon in their respective Order’s chapter. Patience, reader, all will be revealed in time. These individuals will be listed in the same order as the Sith Orders above and the names will be updated periodically (unless you are reading this in an analogue tome).

Members of the High Council of the Sith (circa, 450 ABY)

Darth Timoris, Lord of the Mind | The Order of Emperor Jadus

Lord Zarya, of the Reborn Brotherhood | The Order of Lord Kaan

Darth Nihl V, Fist of the Sith | The Order of Darth Krayt

Darth Monika, the Living Wound | The Order of Darth Nihilus

Prince Lestko Beni’vel*, Bearer of the Legacy | The Order of Darth Nox

Darth Altis, Dark Lord of the Sith | The Order of Emperor Palpatine

Darth Sana, Dark Lord of the Sith | The Order of Darth Plagueis

Torfan Vana, Avatar of Marka Ragnos | The Order of Marka Ragnos

Darth Oridian, the Conqueror | The Order of Darth Revan

Supreme Leader Nathis Ren | The Order of Supreme Leader Snoke

Lady Sara-Il, Mystic of the Sith | The Order of Darth Traya

Lady Vathila, Dark Mistress of the Sith | The Order of Lady Vathila

Lord Interitus | The Order of Emperor Vitiate

*Prince Lestko Beni’vel is the ‘official’ Councilor of the Order of Darth Nox, however, at the time of this writing, the Prince is still too young to assume the mantle. As such, his mother, the Princess-Regent Copania Drellik-Beni’vel acts in his stead until he comes of age (circa, 456 ABY).

ON EXPECTATIONS AND THE PAST

There is a question which has no doubt cropped up in your mind, either now or previously. What is actually contained in this collection of knowledge? What information is to be conveyed to you to utilize how you see fit? There are certain expectations you have; when you entered the Sith, when you began reading this tome.

Have they been met?

It is not important.

Perhaps you expected this to contain pure information; dry and boring articles on the various structures and organization of the Sith. Lists of acronyms and words to memorize. Perhaps you expected to find me speaking about the rich and expansive history of the Sith; of the champions and emperors, our rise to power and subsequent defeats.

Perhaps of the great Lords of the Sith. Sidious, Nox, Jadus, Vitiate, Exar Kun, Malak, Naga Sadow, Marka Ragnos, and more. So many have existed throughout history that hundreds of books could be written on them, and indeed, there are many texts which tell those tales. History, reader, is essential in understanding the Sith for sure. It has influenced our actions throughout history, it has influenced the galaxy, and it has also influenced the Sith Collective you are a part of now.

But you expect details? You want to learn more?

That is good; curiosity is a sign of interest and commitment. I will regale you with the histories of the Sith, you will merely have to wait to hear me describe the Orders. But such details are not important now. I can tell you the history of the Sith in a few short sentences, and the rest are just extra details.

Sith rise, they conquer, they face opposition, they are then brought low by betrayal or Jedi. They go into hiding and this cycle repeats again. Sometimes the lull lasts thousands of years, other times only hundreds. Some are even less. But the Sith have never been eradicated, nor have the Jedi.

Compare these words, this truth that I have written and show me a period where that has not been the case. The Sith Empire, Vitiate’s Empire, the Brotherhood of Darkness, the Rule of Two, Krayt’s Empire. It repeats over and over. And on a scale smaller than empires, it plays out a similar way. Sith brought low individually by Jedi and betrayal.

The Sith are inherently self-destructive. History proves this.

Are you surprised by this admission? Are your expectations altered? Did you expect this to be a mere propaganda document to indoctrinate you in our ways? Did you think I would sing the praises of the Sith? That I am little more than a mouthpiece for Lady Vathila?

I cannot speak the truth if I am blind to it, now can I?

Lady Vathila is not interested in some brain-dead sycophant in her Sith Collective and neither am I. Do not assume that the Sith you speak to know everything or are even correct. This applies to myself. I seek to challenge you. I wish for you to feel uncomfortable and vulnerable when you read. But does this mean that I am right?

Certainly not.

But you know the truth. Living individuals have difficulty denying it. The body and mind instinctively know they are wrong, that what they’re being told is the truth. Oh, they will deny it of course, you will likely deny being made uncomfortable and uneasy now. But you would not be the first, you merely say such things because you didn’t know it would be so nonchalantly acknowledged.

The Sith, reader, are far from perfect.

They are selfish, arrogant, sadistic, self-destructive, manipulative, and ‘evil.’ These labels you have heard and dismissed from your mind as lies and propaganda – or that you quietly believed yet kept to yourself in fear that such acknowledgements would be punished.

Such lies serve no one here.

All of what I listed above is true. Sith have, can, and do embody all those things. Not all Sith are like this, of course, but to state that those individuals are something they are not is merely insulting. If the Sith are these things is not something you should ask.

What you should ask is if it matters.

Does it matter if a Sith is selfish? Is that not merely the instinct of all living individuals? Is that even necessarily bad?

Is arrogance a hindrance if it is earned? Would you consider Sidious or Vitiate’s arrogance to be a detriment or unearned? And yet again, what makes the arrogance of the Sith so much worse than that of the denizens of the galaxy? Of the Jedi, who are so arrogant as to believe that they should be the sole arbiters of what should be learned and what should be forbidden?

Is sadism a flaw if you have the power to carry it out? Is evil truly a criticism when the word is so subjective that it can mean whatever the one who says it wants it to mean? Are Sith self-destructive, or are they merely culling the weak from the strong, or taking measures to preserve everything they care about?

Labels , endless labels. And do any of them matter?

They do not.

The Sith, reader, are many things. We are saints, monsters, killers, heroes, villains, doctors, teachers, students, criminals, soldiers, and more. To paint Sith as nothing but ‘murderous monsters’ is just as inaccurate as stating that ‘all Sith want to impose galactic order and rule benevolently.’ Not all Sith desire control over the galaxy, nor are all Sith mindless killers.

Do such exist? Of course, I can list dozens of examples for each right now.

But reader, if you truly think that the Sith are just one thing, if they follow a singular belief or concept, let the scales fall from your eyes as very little could be further from the truth. Perhaps at one point, this was true. But the wisdom of Lady Vathila has revealed to us the error of such close-minded ways of thinking.

Let go of your expectations, let go of your unfounded beliefs.

It is time you are told the truth.

ON DEFINITIONS AND TRADITION

Do you recall the question I posed earlier?

What makes one a Sith?

Hold the answer in your mind or do not proceed until you have decided upon one. Think carefully on it. You will be not be asked to answer; this is no test, but I have found that the answer speaks significantly to the mindset of the individual in question. If you admit you simply do not know, this is perfectly valid.

You are reading to learn, after all.

Now, let us explore this question.

When you think of the Sith, what comes to mind? Is it the red lightsabers? The dark robes? Men plotting in the shadows? The blue and purple lightning shot from gnarled fingers? The stomach-turning experiments and monstrosities created? Do you picture history and the reigns of Sith? The Sith Empire? The Brotherhood of Darkness? The Galactic Empire? Perhaps even the Old and New Republics?

Or perhaps you see a figure; an individual who so perfectly encapsulates what it means to be Sith. Is it Darth Nox? The frail form of Darth Sidious? The faceless masks of Darth Revan or Darth Jadus? The imposing presences of Darth Vader or Darth Krayt? The lithe forms of Lumiya or Darth Talon? The charismatic presences of Darth Caedus and the Empire’s Wrath, Darth Vauner?

I list all these names and subjects to make you realize the inherent contradictions that exist within the Sith. Would the Sith of Vitiate’s era understand or agree with the Sith of Sidious’s era? Unlikely, and this is not a fault. We do not need to agree with each other. We do not need to accept that our beliefs are wrong simply because another disagrees.

We are not Jedi.

So what ties them together? What makes all these unique and different individuals Sith?

Is it species? No, for there have been Sith of all races, humans and aliens alike.

Is it gender? No, for male and female Sith have existed since the beginning of our Order.

Is it tradition? Considering the amount of unique rituals and traditions from the Old Sith Empires to those of Krayt, as well as the continued evolution of the Sith understanding of the Force, this cannot be the case.

Is it philosophy? By what do you mean? Do you mean to say that either Bane or Krayt is not a Sith? For the Rule of Two and the Rule of One are inherently in conflict. Do you then dispute one having the identify of Sith stripped from them?

I should hope not, for both are worthy of the label of Sith, regardless of their philosophical differences.

The question remains.

Is it the lightning? The death that clings to many of our kind? Hardly, for the Jedi have killed thousands in their time as well, one only need look to the Militant Order for proof. Even lightning is no sure indicator, for Jedi Master Plo Koon was recorded as using similar powers in the days of the Old Republic.

Perhaps you are growing frustrated, either because no answer presents itself, or you have reached my conclusion and are tired of my meandering. All in good time, reader, we are getting close to the truth.

Let us address one more matter – one you may not have even thought to have asked – does the dark side itself indicate one is a Sith?

The answer, while based in acceptable circumstantial evidence, is still not correct. One merely has to look to the Imperial Knights, the voss, and, in some respects, the Quabular to see this disproven. All these individuals utilize the dark side in some way, either directly or as part of rituals. You would not call these Sith, so merely using the dark side cannot be qualifying.

Is it simpler then? The measure of cruelty? Of lives taken? Must one be drenched in blood and lives to be Sith? A reach, surely, for you see the Jedi claiming hundreds or thousands of lives, yes? And if cruelty were the sole criteria one could be considered Sith, then individuals like Caedus, Lumiya, and even Vauner could not be Sith.

Being a Sith does not mean being incapable of empathy. It does not mean being incapable of benevolence.

Ah, I sense that some readers may be revolting in disgust at such words. Perhaps you are at this moment. These words, these heresies, from a Sith no less. We shall dive further into this shortly. It is time to answer the question I have posed above.

To be Sith is to pursue and acquire power by any means necessary.

Look to any of the examples I listed. What connects each and every one of them? What connects all Sith?

The pursuit and acquisition of power.

Without exception, this is what determines if one is Sith. A Sith who does not desire power is no Sith, but a pretender. Power is independent of philosophy or tactic. It can be grand or small. But it is always something to be grasped and employed. Not all who desire and pursue power are Sith, but all Sith desire and pursue power.

Perhaps you are frowning, thinking of this critically. Perhaps this thought has entered your mind.

If the pursuit of power is what makes one Sith, then what role does the Force play?

An interesting question. But consider this as well: Must it play a role at all? Can one hold true power without the Force?

That, I will leave you to ruminate on for now.

ON POWER

What is power, reader?

Is it the iron grip of telekinesis? The dominance of telepathy? The crackling of lightning? Is it sheer command of the Force? Killing dozens by your own hand? Is it control and manipulation over lives beyond your own? Perhaps it can be realized in a feeling; perhaps it is command of armies and soldiers.

Or perhaps it is less physical? Perhaps power is knowledge. Perhaps it is money. Perhaps it is connections and political influence. You, reader, likely have a different definition of what power truly is than I do. This is normal and expected. Indeed, it would be more surprising – yet not unheard of – if we held the same definitions.

But this is just power in general, how one perceives it. Let us look at it more personally. What is power to you? What do you want to use your power for? Is it to take revenge? Is it to punish those who would harm yourself and those you care about? It is to acquire vast wealth for yourself? Is it to cut down opponents in the thrill of combat?

There is no wrong answer here. Do not be ashamed of your desires, for Sith wear our ambitions with pride. You do not need to want to control the galaxy to be Sith, only to use your power to achieve what you and only you want. The desires of others are secondary to your own. Let none shame you for achieving what you want.

And do not fear. When you achieve one goal, you will look higher. You will develop ambition, and this ambition will take you far.

But what you use power for is for you to decide, and you alone.

Listen to the fourth truth:

The only objective truth of power is that the definition of power is subjective.

This truth is established. So, consider it for a minute. Think on the implications. Note the vagueness of the statement, as well as the condition for being considered Sith.

Perhaps you are grasping it.

Let us discuss what power can be.

Let us discuss the ultimate power in the galaxy – the Force itself.

When one thinks of the Sith, one typically connects them to the dark side of the Force. The destructive potential and awe-inspiring abilities our people have brought to bear. You have read the texts where Sith sneer at the Jedi for limiting themselves so completely to the power the darkness offers.

They are correct. The Jedi limit themselves artificially. They fear the dark side because they fear they will realize that we are right to utilize it. That they have been lied to since the beginning and we – their greatest enemy – were right. Perhaps they will come to this realization just before we purge them from this galaxy.

But the Sith have been no better.

Perhaps you shake your head at this. Impossible, you may say, you have just said that the Sith have no such restrictions on the dark side.

You are correct. The Sith historically did not. They embodied the dark side, just as the Jedi have embodied the light.

Yet consider that the Sith were just as restrictive and draconian on the usage of the light side of the Force as the Jedi were to the darkness. The Sith historically have weakened themselves in this way out of fear. Fear that perhaps the Jedi were not as weak as they believed, that the light could have power of its own within it.

Heresy you may be saying, for why would a Sith print such lies and slander?

Because, reader, we are not the Sith of old who blind ourselves to the power the Force offers. The Sith take power; we control the Force, and yet we have been forbidden from exploring the lighter aspects for generations out of a misguided belief that the darkness is superior above all else, that it alone is the true and only path to power.

And where has this belief gotten us?

Reader, look around where you stay. Look at the state of the galaxy.

Do the Sith rule?

They do not. We do not. We have risen, waged war, and fallen. Our reigns are brief or of only partial success. And yet let us look at history. The Jedi were the guardians of the Republic for over a thousand generations while the Sith hid and plotted in the shadows. The Jedi were responsible for the fall of Sidious and the collapse of an Empire after a paltry rule of less than thirty years. The Jedi now control a third of galactic power and more than that, they have evolved as we have done throughout the centuries.

And you dare suggest to me that the light side the Jedi call upon is weak?

You dare suggest the Jedi themselves are weak?

The fool who believes such will be the first to die. This idiotic belief that one side of the Force is weaker than the other is unfounded and has crippled entire generations of Sith. Not even the Jedi believe this ludicrous falsehood. Grand Master Yoda himself merely stated that the dark side is not stronger than the light – implying that the inverse was also true.

This is because light and dark – they are all part of the singular energy field which is the Force.

The Force is power.

Why would anyone restrict themselves to using only a portion of it? Because of tradition? Because of fear? Because of cowardice? The Jedi themselves do not draw upon the darkness because they fear the power will ‘corrupt’ them. Sith? The Sith have believed that the light is weaker.

Once more I ask – who is in hiding, and who sits within the seat of galactic power?

We are Sith. By the wisdom of Lady Vathila we will no longer lie to ourselves. We will not refuse to accept power merely because the Jedi draw from the same methods. Perhaps, reader, you feel furious and angry at the heresy that is in your hands – but listen closely.

It is only the pursuit and acquisition of power which makes one Sith – not the light or dark sides, not even the Force.

Does this mean one must use the light to become powerful?

Absolutely not. Indeed, the majority of Sith still do not believe they need to rely on such. The very idea is uncomfortable. But as we do not tell Sith how they shall acquire power, we shall also not restrict the experimentation of such from unconventional sources. Understand this – using the light side of the Force does not mean one is not a Sith. Displaying characteristics of mercy, benevolence, tolerance, and charity does not mean one is not a Sith.

For these are all in pursuit of power.

Must one be evil to pursue power? Must one be good to be benevolent? Of course not, these are arbitrary labels and expectations. We are Sith, we reject such arbitrary classifications. We do not expel and ostracize those who are different; those who challenge, us like the Jedi and so many others.

I would like to conclude this section with a discussion which has so often precluded the Sith from exploring the Force in its entirety – that of weakness. To follow the light or utilize such aspects of the Force is to open yourself to weakness. Mercy is a weakness, it is said, compassion, benevolence.

But why?

Benevolence gains loyalty, loyalty is power. Mercy cultivates goodwill, this can be turned into favors, connections, and loyalty. Power. Compassion cultivates loyalty, makes others more willing to speak, work with, and support you. Power.

Weakness .

Such fools the Sith were at times.

But what is a weakness? Simple, it is more accurately classified as a vulnerability. A weakness is not in some interpretation of the Force, but the individual itself. It depends on the person. For some, it is status. Others, it is a person – a spouse or child perhaps. Still more covet wealth. Others fear a past event coming to light. It could be a character trait. Perhaps one is overly arrogant or selfish. Perhaps they are too naïve, too easily taken advantage of.

Everyone has a vulnerability. The greatest Sith are not exempt. Sidious was brought down by his hubris. Kaan and Plagueis were brought down by trust. You are not special. Learn your vulnerability, for it is the greatest threat to your power. Learn it, and learn to master it.

A weakness is not usually something superficial and obvious. Sidious was a gaunt frail man, but you would not dare call him weak because of frailty, yes? Similarly, the Jedi are not weak because they use the light side. They are not weak because they exercise compassion or benevolence.

If you are so arrogant as to believe this is the case, then I question the intelligence of the one who brought you to our Order.

But perhaps you can yet learn a thing or two.

Perhaps you can still learn the truth.

ON THE JEDI

You have seen my mention; my disdain for the Jedi Order so far. I do not make assumptions about your own relationship with the Jedi, reader. Perhaps you were one of their Order, perhaps you hate them, perhaps you are indifferent. Yet regardless of your reasons or relationship to the Jedi, they are our mortal and eternal enemies who must be eradicated.

But why?

I will first state that it is not because of their refusal to take the power they so easily could. The Jedi could rule the Alliance should they grow the spine and develop the will to do so – they could do it very easily indeed, to the cheers of the crowds. But this alone does not make them worthy of extermination.

Is it because of how they treat those who question their beliefs? In how they excommunicate or expel those who stand against their draconian views on the Force? No, it is not, because in that respect the Sith were no better until now. By that logic, we deserve to be eradicated as much as the Jedi. Ignorance is not grounds for extermination.

Is it simply because we are better than them, more powerful than them that they should be eradicated? Again, no. I will address this shortly, but the Jedi have those in their Order who are more powerful than you or me. They can be as ruthless and merciless as the Sith at times, and to say that we would condemn an entire group to die based on morality and superiority is laughable.

The removal of the Jedi is a matter of survival for the Sith. The Jedi have a mandate to hunt down and purge the users of the dark side – the Sith – and they will not rest until this is carried out. They believe they are engaged in a near-holy battle between light and darkness, in their ignorance not realizing that one cannot exist without the other.

We have made the mistake of allowing the Jedi to live when we were in power. We became complacent. There have been three great purges of Jedi in the past. Times when our enemies were brought to near-extinction by our efforts. But every time they were cut low, our enemy survived and brought ruin to us, time and again. The Jedi retained their unity, and their drive to strike back against the Sith. As Luke Skywalker so perfectly demonstrates, so long as a single Jedi exists, we are vulnerable.

We are threatened.

This is another reason why the Sith must abandon the outdated notion that one side of the Force is the true path to power. We must work to change the perception that the Sith are a mere monolithic entity of the darkness. I am of the firm personal belief that the first group who actively controls all aspects of the Force is the one who shall emerge the victors in this ongoing conflict.

The Sith are no more traditionally evil than the Jedi are traditionally good.

Labels. A burden to all who are forced to bear them.

Returning to the Jedi, you must immediately dispel the notion in your mind that the Jedi are weak or stupid as many of our brethren did in the past. They are just as strong and powerful as the best of our Masters – with the exception of Lady Vathila, of course. They have evolved and reformed into a political and military entity as their Order never has before.

They are prepared for us. If they learn of our presence, many of our kind will perish.

What comes to your mind when you think of Jedi? Peaceful? Diplomats? Naïve?

Expel these lies from your mind. Learn the truth. Know your enemy.

The Jedi of today are hardened soldiers; they are savvy and manipulative politicians; they are spies without equal. They control and manipulate elections for their benefit. They strike without mercy and execute their enemies dispassionately. They are intelligent. They are dangerous.

They may remind you of Sith.

I will concede that they are learning, but they are still too restrained. They will never grasp the power they could easily earn. They are content with only a third of galactic power, and even then, power is not their goal.

Whereas for a Sith, such power would be the intent, not a mere side-effect.

The Jedi have their vulnerabilities though, but that is a topic for you to learn elsewhere. I am merely going to tell you why they are our enemy and why we will eradicate them. How that shall be done is for others to determine.

ON OTHERS WHO WIELD THE POWER

More than the Jedi use the Force in this galaxy, and it is worth spending some time discussing them and how they might factor into our conquest. All will fall before us eventually, and either submit or be killed, but there are none who are inherently marked for extermination.

The Imperial Knights are first. They have a respectable understanding of the Force and use it as a tool in service to their Sovereigns, both aspects of light and darkness. In this alone they are superior to the Jedi. Yet also like the Jedi, they limit and restrict themselves from grasping the power which they could easily take. They deserve to rule the Empire entire, not be a merely military arm of the Sovereigns. Perhaps when their leaders are dead, their true potential may become apparent to them.

The Mandalorian Jedi are little better than the Jedi Order, as they reject the dark side entirely for reasons as arbitrary and ludicrous as the Jedi Order. Beyond this, many would dismiss them as a credible threat simply due to their youth as an organization and their numbers which hover in the low hundreds. Yet we would be fools to ignore the danger which they can pose, as they trace their origins to the descendants of Darth Revan himself, and are taught – in secret – by old and powerful Force-users; beyond the reach of the Order itself for hundreds of years. There is a strength there, and one which shall be carefully considered before we ultimately remove them from the galaxy.

Sects such as the Quabular are quite fascinating to observe, and if nothing else, all these individuals experience the truth of the power the dark side offers. They are truer than the Jedi in that their rejection of the darkness, of the power, is a choice made of their own free will and not denied from the beginning. While many return to the light, we have those in our ranks who realized that giving up the power they rightfully claim is wrong and pointless. Ultimately, the Quabular are not our enemy and are too small to be of significant threat.

The Voss Mystics are the last I shall cover, and they have quite a curious view of the Force and the power it provides. They are not Jedi, nor are they Sith. They are ruthless in their usage of power when they need to be, but they have no ambition, no desire to use their power. Light and dark are abstract concepts to them, and for that alone they must be respected. Their overreliance on visions is questionable, but such visions have saved their species time and time again. They are one of the few who the Sith could one day consider allies, and on that day, they may understand what it means to be Sith.

ON OUR PURPOSE AND FUTURE

We are reaching the end of this chapter, the first step towards your understanding of the Sith Collective. If you have not thrown down this tome in disgust, or shut off the holocron in anger, then I commend you for reading this to the end. You need not agree with what I say, in fact, if there is one more minor truth to know, it is that you will find that – outside of the Jedi – few Sith agree on much of anything.

What these words are meant to do is challenge you. I do not care if you reject paths of power, that is your right, and your right alone. But I will not accept you failing to understand that all paths to power are acceptable, even if they fly in the face of what you believe. This tome merely tells you what is permitted within the Sith.

If your path to power is unconventional? If it draws upon the light side of the Force? Pursue it.

Take the opportunity that is yours.

Of course, you will not use your power to sabotage the others in this Collective. The One Rule will not be broken, and you will not want to end up like those who attempted before. But this is a fine transition to reiterate what our end goals are.

This Sith Collective is not permanent. It shall only exist until the Jedi are defeated and gone. Then the only obstacles to your power will be other Sith, and with our greatest enemy gone, it will be time to determine who is truly the strongest among us. This is anticipated, it is expected, and it is welcome.

One day, your friends may be obstacles to your power. Do not let them become your weaknesses or if you do, then know that they are, so that they cannot be utilized against you.

The future is action against the Jedi. Your own role has yet to be determined. You now know what it means to be Sith, you know the paths of power which are open to you. But you still have questions. You want to know more about the Sith, the Orders, the Masters. You desire more knowledge.

Knowledge that I am happy to impart onto you. It is time we begin our exploration of the Orders of the Sith. You cannot make an informed decision until you know the truth about what each one is, what they believe and what they follow. You will know which Order is right for you. Each one will likely be alluring in some way, but the Force will draw you towards the correct one.

Or perhaps you will found a new Sith Order and make your own path. I cannot see the future, and even if I could, I would not tell you differently. You have started your own quest to power. The galaxy is within your grasp, and within the Sith you will rise to your full potential – and beyond it.

You have read far enough, it is time you learn who I am.

I am Veritas, Archivist of the Order of Lady Vathila.

Join me, reader, as we learn the truths and teachings of the Orders of Sith. Your true education begins now.

Chapter Text

SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

THE ORDER OF LADY VATHILA

ON ORIGINS AND QUESTIONS

It is fitting that we start here.

Each Order within this Collective is a piece of the mosaic that makes up the Sith; each has a role and part to play in the plan and the conflict to come. Yet no matter the size, the resources, or indeed the power each Order possesses, they are directionless and ultimately pointless without the guidance, the ambition, or the raw strength of our Lady.

It is the Order of Lady Vathila which binds our Collective together.

It is by her hand that we have reached the heights we stand today.

It is through her wisdom that we have curated and elevated the best our people have to offer; through her iron will to achieve a plan which has for so long been elusive in its success.

Without Lady Vathila, without her Order, none of this would exist.

But, reader, questions have no doubt arisen in your mind.

It is understandable and expected.

You no doubt read the names of the Orders, perhaps even looked ahead to see what awaits in future chapters. You saw the names of Sith, some more familiar than others. You saw the greatest of us represented. Palpatine, Vitiate, Jadus, along with Sith of old like Marka Ragnos, to the more recent breed of Krayt and Snoke.

Names you recognize, even if you know few details on some of them. But what is important is that you recognize them. You were likely not raised in the Sith. Few are. Perhaps you sought out this knowledge, persisting in your search for the forbidden or tainted, as the Jedi would say. Many initiates come with a working knowledge of Sith lore and history, as this hunger will not be satisfied with the paltry offerings this galaxy has on display.

Yet there was one name I suspect you did not recognize.

There is no need to be embarrassed or ashamed by it. I assure you that there was no great Sith of history that you happened to never stumble upon. Lady Vathila is beyond worthy of her place among these Sith of legend, yet she has not risen to prominence like her peers. Indeed, if you somehow possessed knowledge of her prior to arriving to our Collective, it would be an impressive feat.

Nonetheless, the question remains.

Where did our Lady come from? Where has she been? What has she done?

Who is she?

Our esteemed Mistress did not reach the position she is today without careful consideration, planning, and knowledge. You will notice I did not specify power. Power on its own is useless. It does not and has never guaranteed victory; else we would have ruled the galaxy long ago. While Lady Vathila possesses power beyond the likes you and I can comprehend, that is not what entitles her to lead our Collective. It is not what will lead us to victory.

No reader, it is her vision which is what has led her to where she is today. Her mind is beyond mortals such as us. I shall endeavor to explain as clearly as I can, but you must understand, reader, attempting to explain one who even I cannot fully comprehend is no simple task. It is describing the mind of a god to a lesser being.

I do not say this to insult you, reader, we are all lesser compared to her.

Let us begin.

ON LADY VATHILA, DARK MISTRESS OF THE SITH

Unlike many of the Sith who followed, our Lady was born into the Sith during the era of the Brotherhood of Darkness under Lord Kaan. Born to one of the few – perhaps the only – massassi enclaves left, which had grown from a single Sith family, they were naturally wary and suspicious of outsiders, and had cut themselves off from the galaxy at large.

Fear drove this enclave; they who still considered themselves Sith, but who were afraid of being exposed to the galaxy and being hunted to extinction.

One wonders why they persisted, as such isolation, such impotence was, in essence, another death. A Sith who makes no impact, a Sith who cowers in fear, is no Sith at all, just an empty shell that merely exists.

Mere existence is not the life any self-respecting Sith would lead.

One can live in the shadows and change the galaxy. This was proved by the followers of the ‘Rule of Two.’

Our Lady was raised in this constraining and degrading lifestyle, taught that this was all her life would amount to. Merely preserving old traditions of long-dead massassi Sith and continuing an incestuous legacy that accomplished little but keeping the bloodlines alive.

For what purpose?

Such has never been shared with me. I cannot imagine any answer would be satisfactory.

Lady Vathila was an anomaly even within her family, a being of power that dwarfed all around her, and even as a young child, she possessed more power than the eldest so-called Sith relative. This initial power was what ultimately granted her freedom from the oppression she lived in. For she was already a scholar in her early years, eager and willing to learn, and fascinated by the rich history of the Sith, a legacy she thought she would continue proudly.

Learning that she was destined to merely remain hidden, a concubine to continue this bloodline?

There is little I can do to convey the disgust and insult such revelations had on her.

Yet unlike her brothers and sisters, and indeed her parents and extended family, Lady Vathila would not bow to such archaic and cowardly commands. She was warned and threatened, and in response she splattered the eldest and most powerful Sith into pieces, staining the old massassi temple with blood for the first time in centuries, before breaking the minds of the remaining elders for condemning their legacy for so long.

None stopped her as she abandoned them on the planet, taking the only working starship and setting off into the galaxy, determined to seek out knowledge of the ancient Sith, as well as those who still persisted.

The Sith during this time were in disarray, scattered across the galaxy. Singular, isolated, weak. Our Lady encountered more challenges in this new galaxy, being forced to learn to read and speak foreign tongues, as well as maintain her anonymity. She knew that her species was supposed to be extinct, and knew better than to draw attention to herself.

Covered by dark cloaks, hoods, and gloves, and with no Sith Order standing, our Lady instead decided to learn all she could about those who had come before. She knew some of the oldest Sith, those who had existed when the massassi lived, those under Naga Sadow and Marka Ragnos, but the later Sith she was ignorant of.

She traveled to the great libraries of Coruscant, the lawless lands of the Outer Rim, the old homeworlds of the Sith, and with each visit, her knowledge grew, her skills became refined, and her vision became clearer.

What vision, you may ask?

We shall get to this in good time.

She was especially intrigued by the legends of Emperor Vitiate; a Sith whose power has never been matched, except now, of course, by our Mistress; the Emperor who possessed such power over life and death, an immortal over an Empire that lasted a thousand years. A goal was formed before her, for she did not intend to act within the timeframe of a mortal.

No, her ambitions are far greater than rule for mere decades.

Vitiate’s own legacy is debated among our kind, but one thing none can say about him is that he lacked a vision – and more importantly – the will to carry it out. Name another Sith who successfully ruled an Empire for even a fraction of that time? The stable rule by Vitiate is the exception among our kind, not the rule.

Sith do not produce rules that are stable.

An uncomfortable fact for certain, but our nature for so long has been detrimental. The more our Lady learned, the more she realized this underlying truth. Indeed, Emperor Palpatine achieved the power we have sought. He won. He should have been the end. Yet mere decades later he was cast down, betrayed by his own Apprentice.

As was tradition.

This was not ideal for our Lady. What use is power and authority when one seems almost destined to lose it so soon after? But she was determined that destiny or fate would have no hold over her, and so she focused her efforts on learning the secrets of Vitiate; many of which were uncovered and learned.

By this time, the Brotherhood of Darkness had been formed and the war against the Galactic Republic was being waged. Both Jedi and Sith were at war once again. Lady Vathila knew this, of course, and you would be forgiven for wondering why she did not rush and rejoin her brethren to destroy the Jedi and the Republic.

With her power, she could have ultimately ushered in a new era of Sith rule, yes?

Perhaps.

If so, it is unlikely it would have lasted long.

Our Mistress is more than powerful enough, though she is also wary and cognizant of potential shortcomings. Her knowledge at this time was incomplete, and she knew this – and also knew that the Sith under Lord Kaan were based on philosophies of Sith whom she had already noted critical weaknesses in.

She would be an outlier; a pariah even among her own kind had she joined. There would have been attempts at betrayal. Would they have succeeded?

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Would she have perished when Darth Bane tricked Lord Kaan into using the Thought Bomb? Or would she have listened to his words? Could she have altered the path of our kind had she made a singular different decision?

We will never know.

Yet history has proven the wisdom of our Mistress over and over again. It is not proper to question what she should have done when all has happened as is necessary, for if she had done any such things, if she had joined Bane, Palpatine, Lumiya, Krayt, and others, she would not be poised to achieve lasting victory.

She possesses a patience, a foresight that you or I cannot understand.

Let us return to the subject at hand.

Instead, she followed the path of Vitiate and landed upon the forgotten planet of Krayiss Two, one of the oldest Sith worlds in the galaxy. Spirits of the old Sith, the pureblooded, lingered. Names the galaxy had long forgotten, but whom were the pioneers of abilities and rituals long forgotten by the galaxy.

This collection of spirits guarded their knowledge jealously, and never shared it with those who were not similarly pureblooded and powerful. To see Lady Vathila before them was no doubt a surprise, and under their tutelage she learned many secrets of the Force, and that which she had been seeking for so long – the secret to immortality.

The Sith spirits of Krayiss Two taught her a ritual, one which would not only extend her life, but amplify her power beyond what she could imagine. Scholars will immediately tie this to the Ritual of Nathema that Vitiate performed, and they would be correct that it is, if not the same one, very close.

Yet there are several things about the ritual that the Sith failed to explain. First, that such a ritual was only intended to be performed by a group of Sith, for no singular vessel could contain the power it would grant, and those who had tried previously had their bodies turn to ash as the power of the ritual overwhelmed them.

Second, that the ritual would cause a disturbance in the Force that would attract attention. Such rituals are an aberration in the Force, and when Vitiate performed his, there are many accounts of Jedi and Sith who sensed something had happened, though what they did not know. I do not know if the spirits even knew of this detail, as it was something Lady Vathila determined herself.

Did the spirits intend for her to fail? To kill herself in this manner? A test of sorts?

It ultimately does not matter, for our Mistress avoided the traps by simply employing one of her most useful of virtues.

Patience.

She was no doubt tempted to perform this ritual herself, but she wisely did not trust the spirits blindly, and spent more years researching Sith rituals on this scale, collecting many ancient holocrons, some were masters in the art of sorcery, and over the span of decades, she modified the ritual to be used by one person and in a way that would not tear the fabric of the Force large enough to be noticeable.

It would not be as powerful, but it was a first step.

Unlimited power would come, but such would be gradual.

With the ritual prepared, she sought out a place to perform it on. Eventually she found a remote colony world of only a few thousand occupants of mixed species, far into the Outer Rim. The crystal world of Gnesis was likely intended to be a mining world of some kind, though it now sits as an abandoned tomb.

When Lady Vathila descended upon it, they, in their ignorance, assumed her to be a unique alien species, and did not stop her overmuch. When they realized what she was doing, it was far too late, and none could have stood against her regardless. As their bodies were reduced to ash, and the strands of their spirits were forever bound to our Lady, she finally achieved her first goal.

She was beyond the reach of time now, no longer having to fear it ravaging her. While this was only the first augmentation of her power, this alone placed her above the power of any Jedi or Sith alive at the time. An important step, but it would not be enough.

You might be reading this now, reader, and wondering if there was another way Lady Vathila could have achieved this without consuming innocents or bystanders. It is unlikely, and let us consider those whose lives she ended. They were shells, much like her own kin had been. Blind to the Force, blind to ambition, sleepwalking through life with no end in sight.

A miner will not change the galaxy. Certainly not one on such a remote planet.

In death – in service of Lady Vathila – they have contributed far more to changing the galaxy, to making an impact, than most of the vapid life that walks this galaxy, ruled and manipulated by their betters. In death, their lives have meaning, and they have ultimately contributed to making the galaxy greater as it will soon be under Her.

Is such sacrifice truly that great a cost when the reward is so impactful?

I will leave that to you to decide, reader.

Ascended beyond the confines of her mortal body, Lady Vathila could begin to make her vision a reality, and to do that, she would start where her life had begun. She traveled back to the world her family inhabited – a return of triumph – and shared with them a vision of the galaxy under her rule.

The youngest and even some of the indoctrinated adults listened with rapt attention, though the new elders remembered when she had slaughtered their eldest and most powerful in what they viewed as a childish tantrum. Be it fear or pride that drove them, they rejected her and demanded she depart.

Several hundred massassi children and young adults stood with our Lady that day, they who cast off the shackles their kind had thrown upon them. Their former families and brethren stared with hatred at those who rejected them so utterly, following a ‘kin-killer with delusions of grandeur.’

But it was fear that precipitated their hateful glares.

Fear at the knowledge that they had lost control forever.

These were no Sith, but cowards clinging to tomes and traditions, unaware of their own irrelevance. The galaxy was not served by them, nor were they worthy to hold the minute authority they possessed on this planet.

The visionaries who joined our Lady departed the planet, but she did not follow right away. Instead, she punished those who lingered for their impotence, their insult to their kind and Sith new and old. They attempted to stop her, of course, but like the men and women of Gnesis, they could not protect themselves from her power, and their essence was taken to serve a higher cause.

To fulfill the vision of our Lady.

One she was intent on pursuing.

ON STUDY AND REFORMATION

Even now, the vision our Lady had may not be clear. You may be forgiven, reader, for being less sure of your previous presumptions. It is not quite as simple as some of the other Orders, nor quite as traditional viewed through the lens of the historic Sith mindset.

In a word, this Collective is not her sole vision, it is merely an aspect of it.

In her time observing and learning, she correctly deduced that the Jedi were, and would remain, the ultimate threat to Sith rule, besides Sith infighting itself – a separate topic. Yet she was struck by how no matter how hard each tried to kill the other, both persisted. The Sith have endured countless purges, and the Jedi have similarly survived events meant to kill them.

The difference was that many times the downfall of the Sith came by their own hand. The collapse of the Jedi came from their own failure to adapt or utilize their own power.

More importantly, the Sith had failed to finish the job and allowed the Jedi to endure. Ironically, she noted that the Jedi were more thorough in their stamping out of Sith teachings, doctrine, and followers in the aftermath of Ruusan than Palpatine had been after the end of the Clone Wars.

Yet she suspected that even this would not have succeeded. Jedi and Sith are ultimately labels; words anyone can adopt for themselves. Even if every Jedi and Sith were wiped out today, the teachings, history, and knowledge would endure. Others would rise in our stead and continue the legacy.

So how to fix this? How to create a galaxy where Jedi would not arise and the Sith would continuously endure?

In a word, it is to destroy the exclusivity of the Sith.

The Sith Collective is the most visible manifestation of this objective, beyond the trappings of physical organization. Sith of the past have been dogmatic and cultish in their own intellectual superiority; convinced that only their way was correct, and those who went against them were traitors or threats to be purged. This caused the Sith to stagnate, and perpetuated the cycles of infighting and betrayal that plagued our kind for so long.

Under the Collective, Sith of many differing philosophies can exist so long as they can prove their worth – and willingness to put aside their differences when necessary. In a word, the culture of the Sith needed to be amended to be more tolerant. The definition of Sith needed to be expanded. There were no longer such things as heretical philosophies and beliefs – if you ultimately sought and wielded power, you were as much Sith as any other.

There have been some Sith philosophies which have unfortunately been incompatible, such as the ill-fated Order of Darth Bane as I have written earlier. Yet such is the exception, not the rule. More importantly, ask yourself why the Jedi stand opposed to us – and why we stood opposed to them. I have said it before in so many words, but it bears some recontextualization.

For thousands of years both Sith and Jedi have held – or been believed to hold – monopolies on sides of the Force. The Jedi claimed one side as their own, the light, and we, of course, claimed the darkness. We fought each other, convinced that we had to eradicate the other and foolishly believing that we could eradicate an aspect of the Force.

Do you truly believe the Force will be affected in this way?

That if all Jedi died, the light would no longer exist?

Fools, many of the old Sith were. Shortsighted and binary fools; only capable of seeing the galaxy in black and white, when the Force is ultimately gray. It is power one can draw from as they see fit, be it of the light or dark. This intellectual infection penetrated the galaxy, where all were indoctrinated into believing that if they were drawn to one aspect or another, that was their only choice.

It is not .

Lady Vathila realized that the Force cannot be separated so easily. The Jedi have continued to endure because so many feel they have no other choice, without realizing the Sith can be far more than those who can draw only on the darkness. By opening up the Sith to those who are drawn to the light, yet are seduced by the truths of the many philosophies in our Collective, what need is there for the Jedi to endure?

How do they react when there are Sith who do not fit their mold of ‘monsters’? That there are Sith who can be heroes and saviors? What can they say?

Anything?

Perhaps. But the words will ring hollow for many Jedi. One only need to look to the Militant Order, the Justicars, and the Jedi Shadows. Men and women who hunt and butcher those they deem threats, they deem worthy of execution. They call themselves ‘Jedi’ because they are driven by concepts such as justice and law.

And who says such concepts are exclusive to Jedi? That such justifications cannot be adopted by us?

There are many Jedi alive today who would have been considered Sith in the days of the Old Republic. Jedi who would have been deemed corrupt or fallen, and who are now lauded as peacekeepers and heroes. There are many, many Jedi who are primed to be freed from the lie they have constructed around themselves.

This is the ultimate brilliance of Lady Vathila. The realization she determined and accepted. The Jedi will not be eradicated through simple conquest and war, but through the co-opting of the light. In truth, it is unlikely that the Jedi will ever be fully eradicated, but they will be reduced to a weak fringe cult, while the galaxy is dominated by the many factions of Sith.

Over centuries, this window, this perception, of what it means to be Sith will continue shifting, perhaps to the light, perhaps to the dark, but it will ultimately remain Sith, while the Jedi will gradually be supplanted and forgotten. Sith who harness the Force in all its aspects, not wholly dominated by one or the other.

This is how the Jedi are eradicated.

Not just through war.

But by making them irrelevant.

Such a vision takes time to realize, of course, and our Lady knew that such a grand design would not materialize immediately. Thus, she required patience and careful curation of her Collective; one she knew would take many, many centuries before she was ready to act.

That time is fast approaching, reader.

We are nearing the endgame.

ON THE FOUNDING OF THE SITH COLLECTIVE

Let us return to the story of our Lady, as it is not yet complete and here you will be given a brief overview of the history of this Collective, reader, for it is impossible to recount the ascension of Lady Vathila without also speaking of the growth of the Collective itself, as the two are so intrinsically tied.

With her small band of acolytes, she determined a course for the future of the Sith, but at the beginning she had very little. So many in the Sith were gone or scattered, and the fledgling Sith Collective had few resources, funding, or manpower.

Her vision was clear, but how to put this into practice? Our Lady understood what needed to be done, but was unclear on the process of bringing it to fruition. It was a question of if a single Sith Lord could rally a disparate collection of competing ideals, philosophies, and ideologies around a singular goal. An organization notorious for infighting and ultimate betrayal. Was such even possible?

Perhaps not, even for one as worthy as Lady Vathila.

It ultimately mattered little

The Collective would be forged no matter the cost, but to succeed would require guile, for she was aware that the other Sith would inevitably plot behind her back. To approach the many, she would need to sway the powerful few. There were only a handful that she believed could tip the scales in her favor, but only one group which embodied her future vision now.

Who were these Sith that she found so perfectly suited for the future? If you have read the table of contents, you should already know, for this tome lists each Order in sequence of its joining of our great Collective. It was the Revanites, as they were known at the time. Survivors who had somehow escaped the purges of Jadus and the Jedi, who had endured the Dark Age, and who had remained isolated from the galaxy ever since.

They represented a pragmatic and diverse interpretation of what it meant to be Sith. An ideal start. A powerful ally. Both boldly joined forces, and formally established the Sith Collective. This joining provided Lady Vathila with a fresh group of Sith, who could scout and recruit throughout the galaxy, and ever so slowly, the ranks of the Sith would grow.

Two events took place in the few ensuing decades after this. Several Sith broke from the Order of Revan to establish the Order of Darth Traya, a decision which was accepted and hailed as a needed expansion of Sith philosophy and perspective. The world of Dromund Kaas was also rediscovered, and with it, the descendants of Darth Nox, along with a collection of powerful Sith bloodlines.

Lady Vathila personally visited the families, and over a full week of discussion, returned to announce that the Collective would be expanded to accept the new Order of Darth Nox. This provided our Collective with a developed world from which we could operate from, as previously, it had been largely relegated to remote moons and planets.

We did not have the resources then as we do today.

New Orders were formed in the years that followed, as our collection of Sith lore and artifacts grew, as Lady Vathila made it a priority to amass as much knowledge of the Sith as possible, in addition to her own extensive collection. The Orders of Vitiate and Nihilus were formed, both of which brought valuable contributions to the greater Collective.

Little development took place in the waning days of the Old Republic, though our Collective was becoming more refined, possessing more resources, and becoming more powerful. Yet it was certainly not enough. There was a brief time where there was a held breath as Emperor Palpatine assumed control of the galaxy, yet Lady Vathila saw that it would not last, and made the decision to refrain from interfering.

A wise choice, as his Empire fell in mere decades.

Yet the legacy of Palpatine, as well as his Master, endured. The Inquisitors and Acolytes of Palpatine found their way to us, and eventually the Orders of Darth Plagueis and Emperor Palpatine were established. The Collective had grown substantially now, but due to the wisdom and planning of our Lady, it continued to work in harmony and with a singular vision – in conjunction with a new force that found their way to our Lady.

We were sought out by a fallen Jedi Knight named Jaden Korr around the time of the Second Galactic Civil War – along with a cadre of massassi warriors, commanded by the spirit of Marka Ragnos. Such an entrance was one of the few times our Lady has expressed any measure of surprise, but we certainly were not displeased by the desire of the great Lord to contribute to her vision, and the Order of Marka Ragnos endures to this day.

As other events shook the galaxy, particularly the rise of Darth Krayt and the Third Imperial Civil War, more were promised to eventually find their way to us, as our Lady once more predicted that neither would succeed in their goals, and indeed, years later, both remnants of the One Sith and First Order found their way to the Collective.

Together in war and together in peace, the Orders of Supreme Leader Snoke and Darth Krayt were like siblings joined at birth, different in their own ways, but united in purpose for good or ill. To have one was to have both. To keep them appeased and willing to remain was a difficult feat, one few would be able to maintain alongside the greater Collective. And yet, our Lady’s great foresight kept the Orders from leaving and lashing out at one another.

Near this time, another remnant of the Third Imperial Civil War found its way to our Collective. A woman by the name of Timoris joined our ranks. Our Lady was impressed with her mind and power, and Timoris soon earned the right to establish the Order of Emperor Jadus.

Under the opportunities and stewardship provided by our Lady, the wisdom and breadth of the past became open to those who sought knowledge that lesser leaders would have feared. Some Sith learned of the Brotherhood of Darkness once led by Skere Kaan, and were inspired by his unorthodox ways, eventually forming the Order of Lord Kaan, with the blessing of our Lady, and since then they have brought new life and understanding to the philosophy of the Brotherhood – once thought vanquished after Darth Bane’s betrayal.

There were, of course, those who would take advantage of our Lady’s generosity and vision. I mentioned, previously, the traitorous Banites who sought to destroy our great Collective from within. Perhaps it was unsurprising or inevitable, but they are also a part of our history, and to this day it remains the correct decision, for all who aspire to power should chase it, and we do not discriminate on philosophy or ideology.

But the fallen Order of Darth Bane taught us a lesson – and hardened our resolve.

I suspect, reader, that this was ultimately a positive development. For it showed that the Sith Collective was united in achieving the directives set out by our Lady, and was willing to stand side by side against those who would destroy us. It proved that we were now beyond the petty infighting of the Sith of old.

It was a test we weathered.

A test we succeeded.

Today, our Sith Collective is comprised of thousands. We have influence throughout the galaxy, and our warriors, scholars, spies, and teachers have few equals. The galaxy is unaware, of course, but soon, we will reveal ourselves. By the wisdom of Lady Vathila, we will achieve the vision over ten thousand years in the making.

Perhaps more Orders will be formed before this happens, I do not know, but, reader, regardless of what path you choose to walk, remember that none of this would be possible, were it not for the wisdom, intelligence, and power of the Dark Mistress of the Sith.

ON OUR ROLE

You now know the vision of our Lady, and her arduous rise to greatness. You know her pivotal role in the creation of the Sith Collective and no doubt are aware that she presides over the High Council of the Sith. Yet what is our role, which is to say, that of the Order of Vathila?

Is it to merely enforce discipline and provide direction? Is it to ensure the Collective is fulfilling the vision of our Mistress? Is it only to lead? To observe? Do we simply exist to do whatever our Lady demands?

In a way, we do all of these things, reader.

The Order of Marka Ragnos may be charged with keeping our ranks free of plotting and betrayal, but the Order of Lady Vathila is also charged with a far more crucial role in keeping order in our Collective. We do far more than ensure we are not beset by infighting; we support the Orders in their missions, we offer guidance and counsel; we are mediators and arbiters within the Collective, with the authority to debate and solve disputes.

Such happens. We are Sith, after all. Disagreements are natural and inevitable. We ensure that they are resolved through dialogue and not bloodshed. We are the Order which is instrumental in preserving unity, for ultimately, the vision of Lady Vathila is the one all in the Collective follow. It is imperative that all Orders recognize this and tailor their actions to fill a crucial role.

Through Lady Vathila, we lead the Collective into the future. This is a burden our Lady does not bear lightly, for she knows the consequences and ramifications that await her every decision. As such, she does not invoke her given authority often, but when she does, we ensure that the rest of the Collective falls in line per her orders.

We do more than follow the example of our Mistress, we also lead in other areas as well. Many of the Orders tend to specialize in certain disciplines, be they in the Force, science, or technology.

We cannot match the sheer breadth of skills and specialties performed by the others of our Collective; the scientists of Plagueis, the political savants of Palpatine, the soldiers of Revan, and beyond. Many Orders focus on a skill or discipline and hone in on it to achieve perfection, yet we are not so restrained in our focus. Even despite our broad focus, the members of the Order of Lady Vathila are able to stand among their peers as equals in their preferred disciplines.

We intend to do more than maintain the status quo, and are continually seeking new ways of improvement. Certainly no different from other Orders, but we pride ourselves on our high standards, which are continually set by our Lady to ensure we do not become complacent in our power and skill, for there is always a challenge, and there is always a threat.

Be sure you are prepared when you encounter it.

Of course, any member of our Order is obligated to follow whatever commands our Mistress deigns to give us. Such opportunities are not common, and should you be privileged enough to be personally selected, ensure you do your best to carry out her commands to the letter, for our Lady is generous and does not waste her time on the trivial.

Even if it is what you consider a menial task, it shows you have attracted her attention. Savor it, for few have such an honor bestowed upon them.

All of this our Order does, but that is what we are directed to do. There are other goals of our Order, higher directives than what we do on a daily basis, ones which our Mistress personally directs. While this Collective is the greatest achievement in the history of our kind, it will not last forever.

When the Jedi are made irrelevant, it will collapse. All know this is merely a means to an end. All have plans for what happens next; how they will fight, how they will rule. We unite for a common enemy, but when that enemy is no more, such an alliance is unnecessary. Only then will we be permitted to know for certain who is the strongest.

Who is worthy of ruling the galaxy.

What Lady Vathila believes is simple.

That who controls the Force is worthy of ruling the galaxy.

This statement is deceptively simple, after all, do not all Sith believe such?

Not entirely.

Your views on the Force may differ. Some view the Force as a means to an end, a tool to be wielded and used for personal and ideological benefit. Others view it as a precious gift to be carefully cultivated and used. Others believe it has a will, a destiny for those to follow. Still more treat it as a force of nature, something to be viewed cautiously and respectfully.

Who is right?

None can say. Not truly, for there are none who can fully comprehend what the Force is.

This is what we seek to understand. This is what our Lady seeks to achieve. Usage of the Force is trivial; a basic manifestation of the underlying power of this galaxy. So much of the Force remains a mystery, and while many have sought answers, none have been found that were satisfactory – leading the seekers to abandon the search or die as failures.

It is simple to fall back into what is familiar, to accept the Force for what it is and never delve deeper.

If you will indulge me, reader, I will speak briefly on the Force and what it means to us in this Order. While it is easy to say the Force needs no explanation, I would heartily disagree with such an assertion. I cannot say that the Force has an agenda, per se, but I can assure you without a doubt that it is alive in a way only we privileged few can ever understand.

The Force speaks to all of us in different ways, it is what draws us along our paths, consistently whispering in our ears. It is an instinct that each of us has, and we choose to listen to it or not.

Do you doubt?

Close your eyes.

Listen.

Feel .

The Force reacts within you. If you listen closely, it will lead you to power you can only imagine right now. If you follow it, it will reveal truths about you and others. I cannot dismiss the Force as a mindless fixture of this galaxy when it has led me on this path and shown my Mistress the future. I cannot say what guides the Force, if anything at all, but it is far more than some assume it to be.

I have witnessed enough to know that, as usual, our Lady is correct.

Those who control the Force, those who understand the Force in an intimate way, they are the ones who deserve to control the galaxy. The Force flows through all living creatures, it allows us to dominate minds and command the elements. It augments our bodies and performs feats the logical would dismiss as impossible.

The Force can do the impossible.

The Force is impossible.

This is why we must strive to comprehend it. This is why we must learn it. To us, impossible is merely a word, and not finality itself.

Imagine the secrets of the Force laid bare. That you could become one with the Force in a true way, a way that does not, as the Jedi believe, involve death. Imagine what one could do with such power. There is only one worthy to even attempt such a monumental task, only one who could even achieve such a power.

We are here to ensure she ascends beyond this mortal plane, and her domain becomes the Force itself.

This is the true task of the Order of Lady Vathila. 

ON THE ACOLYTES OF THE MISTRESS

Now that we have discussed the ambitions and philosophies of our Order, let us turn to matters perhaps more practical to you, reader. All Orders have a hierarchy or structure, and we are no different. We are certainly not as complex as some, but we are no disorganized mob. While there is no disputing that Lady Vathila commands all aspects of our Order, there is what some of you will recognize as a ‘chain of command.’

But a question you may be asking: How does one join the only Order with a living founder?

Ultimately, it is our Lady you must convince to join our Order. For though there are trials and tribulations one must endure, they are for naught if she does not see you as possessing the necessary skill and willpower – to be a part of the Order of Lady Vathila is not for the weak of heart or mind.

I will explain shortly.

There are two potential roles for initiates in our Order, one of which is reserved for outside recruits, and another only possible for the few born within our Order itself. These roles will prime initiates for the trials of our Order, where they will earn their place as full members. 

Those we recognize as the Acolytes of the Mistress are initiates who are new to the Sith – such as yourself, reader. They are untested, raw, and willing – the perfect clay to be molded into something magnificent.

Most can become Acolytes if they so choose, and indeed, the Acolytes are among the most privileged of our Order, for they personally see to the needs of our Mistress and witness firsthand her power, grace, and intellect. These are no mere servants, as indeed, it would be more accurate to call them disciples instead.

Many initially begin confused and afraid. It is understandable, for anyone who enters the presence of our Lady should show proper deference, but our Mistress is not needlessly cruel like Sith of old. We are beyond pointless disposal of servants and underlings, and instead, we seek to shape them into something greater.

The Acolytes spend much of their time within her presence, her aura of power is overwhelming to the unprepared. Many outside our Order are ignorant of the power she commands, as it is powerful enough to cause the weak of heart and mind to expire. It has caused the powerful to fall limp and helpless. Our Mistress does not wish to cause distraction, and typically restricts her power when outside her domain.

The Acolytes do not have this luxury, and are instead exposed to the full, brutal, overwhelming, and intoxicating power she commands. An Acolyte is no weakling, for they must withstand this assault on their senses and spirit at all times. The weak do not survive in her presence. They are warned, of course, most believe they can withstand it.

Some can.

Some, not so much.

Can you?

Our Mistress is always accompanied by no fewer than six Acolytes, all distinguished through their black robes trimmed with red edges. Some carry lightsabers, others do not. Some are powerful in the Force, others are less sensitive. Yet each and every one of them is strong and committed; they possess a will that is tested every waking moment, and are fully devoted to the vision of our Mistress.

Their tasks can range from the mundane to the crucial. Research, dueling, strategy, as a messenger – the Acolytes serve whatever role our Lady designates. Each Acolyte she takes an interest in, for those who can stand in her presence are worthy of some attention. Many times, she will give instructions specifically to enhance their skills.

Many times, she knows them better than they know themselves, and like a mother, she guides them on the right path even if they do not see it at the time. It is impossible to say that the Acolytes only perform specific tasks, or that they specialize in one thing or another. They are fluid, diverse, and wholly unique, much like our Collective itself.

You may wonder if there can be an honor or a position higher than this, for certainly many would be content in such a role, yes? Many would indeed be content with such an honor, yet our Lady believes one should always strive for greater. To this end, the position of Acolyte is merely the beginning of one’s journey under her direction. For those suitably ambitious, there are a few coveted positions above Acolyte which involve potentially lethal trials.

While our Mistress expects us to apply ourselves and reach new heights, she also understands that not all are capable of commanding great power, and respects the restraint some possess. If one knows their true limits, there is little to be gained from needlessly sacrificing oneself. Many still attempt, knowing better, but there is no shame in remaining an Acolyte to our Mistress.

Even the lowest have a role to play, after all.

ON THE CHILDREN

Most individuals are recruited into the Sith Collective. While there are certainly couples who bear and raise younglings within our academies, they are always the exception and not the rule. Within our own Order, however, the opposite is true.

The massassi, long thought to be extinct from the galaxy, exist in abundance throughout the Collective – though most reside within our Order and the Order of Marka Ragnos. Once few in number, they are now the descendants of the massassi who originally departed with Lady Vathila, as well as our Lady herself. As an aside, I will note that this does not apply to the massassi of Ragnos, whose origins will be discussed when we cover that particular Order.

We are, admittedly, not pure massassi on a genetic level, as you may be able to tell from some of our appearances which bear hallmarks of other aliens, but our species is unmistakable, and our Lady has brought her people back from the brink by bearing children from only the most worthy and powerful men of many species – some Sith, some not.

Our Lady does not discriminate on labels, even in circumstances such as copulation.

Her offspring are the Children, her children, though we would not think to say so out loud. One would only make such a declaration expecting a desired response. One can see we come from her, there is no need to state it. You will never see one of the Children say they are born of our Lady, and I only write these words now to explain, nothing more.

How many Children are there? As I write this there are hundreds, and our Mistress has birthed hundreds more, long before our lifetimes.

But for what purpose?

Does there need to be one? I cannot provide a satisfactory answer, nor do I feel inclined to determine one. Not every action of our Mistress needs to be explained to us, as she is entitled to privacy for certain matters.

The Children are born of Lady Vathila, and most are raised by Acolytes or the Dark Lords. Rarely does she rear the Children herself unless they show exemplary promise or otherwise attract her direct attention. Many Children grow within the Order, and are both exposed to our Mistress and other Sith at an early age.

They are trained and taught, usually by a designated parental figure, in the art of the Force and other skills. Many times, the Children become closer to these adoptive figures than the one who bore them. As such, she can be forgiven for treating others with more care than her offspring.

This is true, though there is a rationale for this. The Children are no more entitled to our Lady’s time and attention merely because of red skin and the ancient blood flowing through their veins. The Children, much like the Acolytes, must prove themselves. They must fend for themselves and show their devotion, intellect, and power to the Sith and our Mistress.

There are no shortcuts for the Children, no easy path they can walk. In some respects, our lives are harder because of how we were born, yet none of us can complain, as the rewards are easily worth the pain to get there. As the Children grow, they take on a role similar to the Acolytes, though due to the skills acquired, are sometimes placed in charge of training or other duties.

But this is where the Children can ascend no further, not without undertaking the trials. An event that all Children strive for when they are old enough to understand what it will mean. There is only one action the Children are forbidden from undertaking – the raising of another child born of Lady Vathila.

We are raised not in pure isolation, but taught to not become reliant on one another merely because of shared blood. A measure of wisdom our Lady has seen to implement, of which we are now all thankful for.

You may have noticed, dear reader, as you’ve read my words on this part of this Order, that there is a certain familiar tone I use. A fondness for the Order and its founder. This is no accident, for I am blessed to be a member of our Lady’s first triumph. I strive to maintain an objective description, yet my words are colored by my own experiences and biases here.

Recognize this. As with all I write, do not simply take my word for it. Speak to others, read accounts, tour the temple grounds. 

Judge for yourself if I speak the truth.

There are some who would scoff at my willingness to serve; who deride my ruby skin as if there were no other place for me. It is true that I am massassi, I am of the Children, and it is true that most of us remain behind under our primogenitor’s oversight. But never doubt that we each willingly choose to serve our Lady of our own volition.

One now might wonder if non-massassi children born to members of the Order fall into this category. I would answer ‘no’ on a technicality, as they are typically kept and raised by their parents as opposed to the Children born of Lady Vathila. Despite this, for all intents and purposes, they follow a similar path, though there are few non-massassi born into the Order that would fall into this pool of future Sith.

Yet the Order of our Mistress is not for all of us. Some choose to serve in other Orders. Lord Tsod is one of our greatest minds, and yet his contributions to the Collective originate in the Order of Plagueis. That is our Lady’s greatest strength, to see that the best course of action often lies with ceding power to the individual. With allowing others to control their destinies without interference.

Wisdom in our time that has paid dividends for centuries.

But both Children and Acolytes will soon face the ultimate tests to ascend beyond their stations. These are the trials that separate the weak from the strong, and the worthy from the unworthy.

ON THE TRIAL OF GNESIS

Note that I have said there are trials, reader. This was not a vague reference; I mean that there are multiple types of trials of our Order. Or more specifically: two. One which is expected for all Acolytes and Children after a certain amount of time, and one which is only for the strong. While neither trial is required, it becomes expected.

Of the two, the Trial of Gnesis is the simplest.

It is, admittedly, a test that one who has spent their lives in the presence of our Mistress should be able to pass without issue, for it is not a test of strength, but one of resolve, of will, of dedication. It is an act of defying the Force itself, one which screams and pulls on your very body and soul trying to rip it apart.

In this trial, one shows their ability to reject the destiny the Force demands.

How does this trial work? What is involved?

Look to the name. You will doubtless recognize it as the world where our Lady ascended beyond the reach of time and mortality. The ritual she performed that day had consequences, of course, as one cannot harness such power without repercussions. When Emperor Vitiate used the ritual on Nathema, he rendered the planet a husk of itself.

The ignorant say that the world was stripped of the Force.

They would be incorrect. The Force covers the galaxy like a blanket, permeates every aspect of our reality from the planets to the stars. Only abominations have the capability of negating this, and those are few and isolated. Yet what is true about the Force is that it is tranquil. Even in the most volatile nexuses the worst it will do is assail the individual with insight.

We break this tranquility when we draw upon the power. The Force does not do this on its own.

But ask yourself what happens when it does? When the tranquility is ripped apart and the calm river becomes a roaring torrent. When it reacts in ways we do not expect. When it is disturbed in a way which is decidedly unnatural.

This is the consequence of the ritual Lady Vathila, and Vitiate before her, used.

This is what one who undertakes this trial must endure.

They will travel to Gnesis or another planet afflicted by the ritual, and walk upon its surface. To pass this trial is simple – one must no longer be affected by the unseen maelstrom that invisibly roars. This is different for each individual, for each responds differently to this anomaly of the Force.

Descriptions of what one endures varies. Some describe a hollow cold that threatens to tear them apart from the inside. I have witnessed those who failed to withstand the power drop to the ground dead as their spirit is torn apart, others have had their bodies disintegrate. More have had their minds driven to madness or are possessed by false ghosts and remnants of those eradicated.

There are some who experience hallucinations, whispers from voiceless entities who sometimes spew gibberish or give clear instruction. It is impossible to predict what one will experience when undertaking this trial. It ultimately does not matter, for your goal is simple – to endure and overcome the pain and discomfort you feel.

Do not fear passing this trial by accident. If you emerge from walking this maelstrom of the Force, then you have passed. Those who cannot, expire quickly, well before they can recognize their mistake and preserve their lives.

Those who succeed are hailed as the truly devoted of our Order, those whose resolve and will were tested, and who succeeded in an arduous trial which would consume the lesser. 

They are our Lady’s Trusted.

ON THE TRUSTED OF VATHILA

The name is no exaggeration, reader.

One does not pass the Trial of Gnesis unless they possess a devout and strong will. Through this trial they have proven themselves, and thus are permitted to know the many secrets of our Order. Secrets which all Orders have, secrets that I will not share with you today, but ones you may learn should you determine this is where your path leads.

The Trusted cannot be turned. They cannot be broken. They can never be swayed away from our Order or its champion. How can they be when they have experienced pain and torment and endured only by clinging steadfast to their will and devotion? Let this serve as a warning to any who would try and test our loyalties.

The Trusted are not our most powerful, they will never reach the acclaim and heights of some of our most prominent members, but their devotion cannot be questioned. If our Lady desires something that must be done, and must be done without error, she will turn to the Trusted, for only they can possess the inherent loyalty that cannot be bought, broken, or used.

Of course, one does not know who is Trusted at first glance. Within our Order, many of us know, but an adversary? Not as easy, for the Trusted keep such a title to themselves. It is not shared in simple conversation. Only those who have been deemed true allies to our Lady and her Order are permitted such knowledge.

The Trusted exist throughout our Order, from simple analysts and childrearers, to the advisors of our Lady herself. Do not dismiss or assume out of hand the station of one in our Order. It is fairer to say that this is more of a title – a mark – than a true rank in and of itself. There is no Order of Trusted – they simply are.

Am I among this number?

Come now reader, you should know I will not disclose that here.

Outside our Order there is a perception that of our trials, only one achieves something special, that only one is seen as worthy. I shall dispute this tired notion vigorously, reader. Neither the Trusted, nor the Trial of Gnesis, are seen as lesser in any way. Each trial allows certain privileges and powers, and to suggest that one is elevated over another is the height of folly.

Blind fools still endure, even now it seems.

But you are no doubt curious about the second trial, reader. Let us turn to it.

ON THE TRIAL OF OUR LADY’S TRIUMPH

As the Trial of Gnesis was a test of internal willpower and steadfast devotion, the Trial of Our Lady’s Triumph is an expression of the power we bring to bear through the Force. It is simple in explanation, similar to the previous trial, yet a wholly different matter to appropriately execute. As our Lady learned the ritual of Nathema, so, too, do participants of this trial.

Yes, reader, there are a fair number within our Order who possess knowledge of the ritual – which is a closely guarded secret – and have the means to utilize it. Such knowledge is essential, for that is what the trial requires to perform it successfully. Few within even our Order undertake this trial because of the inherent danger involved.

Those who fail to contain the power or channel it properly will find their bodies disintegrated as the Force burns them to atoms along with anyone unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity.

Those who succeed, join the ranks of the most powerful users of the Force within our Collective.

Of course, learning the ritual is only the first step. Identifying a planet comes next. Though such a ritual will not consume the entire planet, of course – such is suicide for mortals like us – but instead, one will find a small village or town on this planet. Ideally it is remote, isolated, and unconnected to any party which may inquire after their well-being. Those connected to the Jedi are especially discouraged. Ultimately, who the targets are connected to is more important than the targets themselves.

This trial is a true test of strength, discipline, and power, for one cannot practice this ritual beforehand. They cannot prepare themselves for the magnitude by which they will shake the Force with their actions. They cannot prepare for the joining of fragmented spirits which are ripped from their bodies and serve as conduits for the user forever.

You may think you can prepare.

You cannot.

The execution of the ritual is only the beginning, for it is what comes after which determines your strength; your skill. It will come to you in a rush, elevation beyond all you can comprehend. The power of the Force itself will be at your fingertips and you shall feel unstoppable. This will build and build.

Eventually, it will reach a point your body cannot handle – unless you control it first.

Many an arrogant Acolyte or Child has believed such is trivial, but there is a psychological trap that too many fall into. It requires deliberately limiting your power. It is tasting godhood and setting it aside. Many cannot give up this power and it consumes them. This trial does more than elevate our strongest – it only allows those who understand restraint to succeed.

One must be aware of their own limits, after all.

And knowledge is power.

ON THE DARK LORDS OF VATHILA

Those who successfully complete the Trial of Our Lady’s Triumph are granted the title of Dark Lord of Vathila, and represent the few and powerful of our Order, those who possess an intimate understanding of the Force that few even within the Sith can match. They are our greatest weapons, our most cunning minds, and symbols of what is possible through the Force.

Sith often carry lightsabers; traditional weapons of our Collective and the Jedi. The Dark Lords are unique in that, like our Lady, they do not carry them – or at least display them publicly. I am certain many have constructed their own as a contingency, but the Dark Lords see themselves as above the fray and tradition of duels and skirmishes.

Why engage in a tedious duel when one can pulverize an opponent with a gesture or paralyze their minds with a thought?

The Dark Lords wear robes similar to the Acolytes, though theirs are far more ornate and befitting of their station. Patterns of white and purple mark the Dark Lords, their faces often shrouded from view as they keep to themselves in service to our Mistress. The Dark Lords only emerge if there is an immediate threat to the Sith or upon the Order of our Lady.

This is not out of a haughty arrogance, dear reader, the Dark Lords who emerge from the trial are markedly different. They possess an aura of power around them which can affect the minds of even Sith – especially those untrained in our ways. They pale in comparison to Lady Vathila, of course, but their power is by no means quaint.

Their days are spent completing the most advanced of research on the Force as directed by Lady Vathila, for they alone possess the insight to see paths and ways that others, blind to their power, cannot. Secrets rule the Dark Lords, secrets which I will not reveal here, yet should the Dark Lords succeed under the flawless direction of our Lady, then our understanding of the Force will be forever changed.

Many see the Dark Lords as the sword; the weapon of our Order. A counterpart to the Darr`tah of the Order of Vitiate, the Revanites of the Order of Revan, or the Fist of the One Sith. A view which is partially true, but once more ignores the purpose of our Order. We are not militant like others, and this thinking seeps throughout the Collective, creating misinformation where none should exist.

The Dark Lords are far more than mere weapons. They are scholars, scientists, visionaries, and teachers. They have increased our understanding of the Force to degrees not thought possible; they see a future where through the Force our potential is limitless. Their greatest asset is not simply their immense power, but the intellect and wisdom that temper it.

I shall make a short note before we move on. I have mentioned that the trials are not mutually-exclusive, and it is time to highlight that. One can undertake the Trial of Gnesis and later undertake the Trial of Our Lady’s Triumph or the inverse. Neither gives an inherent advantage to the other, even if one is considered less lethal.

Though the number of those who complete both these trials, and those Dark Lords who are amongst the Trusted, are few. The lethal nature of these trials dissuades many, and there is no pressure to undertake both. Some do, either out of pride, arrogance, or the belief they possess what is necessary.

Some do. Most do not.

But a Dark Lord who is of the Trusted is without a doubt the greatest asset our Order possesses, though far behind our Lady herself. Such individuals I cannot name, nor would they identify themselves. But they exist, they observe, and they act.

Some are most certainly in the group I will detail next.

ON THE CHOSEN OF VATHILA

It should come as little surprise to you, reader, that Lady Vathila, like most great leaders, possesses an inner circle who provide perspective or wisdom as much as the unworthy can advise one such as our Lady. These are the Chosen of Vathila, and they are not who you believe them to be.

Let me anticipate your expectations.

Are the Chosen made of the Trusted? Are they her most senior? Her most elite?

Look to the name.

Chosen .

That is the only qualification to be counted among this body. It does not matter if one is an Acolyte, Child, Trusted, or Dark Lord. At any point, our Lady can select you to be a part of this inner circle. Rejoice if you find yourself among this number, for that means that our Lady has great plans for you indeed.

It is a very rare and very special individual who acquires her favor in this manner.

The Chosen are marked by a subtle but noticeable golden band around their wrist. One of the Chosen is to be deferred to at all times, for they are the only ones who have the authority of our Mistress, and can only be countermanded by her. They are effectively her proxies and act with her authority, and to ignore them is to ignore the will of our Mistress.

The Chosen is a number which fluctuates, and has risen to as many as three dozen to as few as four. It is not a permanent position, and to lose one’s status as Chosen is no insult, for that means you’ve fulfilled your purpose to the letter and our Lady has no further need of you. Some join this body multiple times, some only once. Each is an honor beyond imagination.

Their roles are secretive, and even I do not know the true extent of their objectives and missions, but I do know that they directly advise our Lady on multiple subjects and decisions. They spend their days plotting and charting the course of our Order. They are the architects of our future and the few who have the undivided attention of our Mistress.

For those who doubt the reach and openness of the Chosen, our Mistress has elevated both initiates who had only just joined our Order, as well as the most senior of the Dark Lords. She does not discriminate, and the words I write are no mere propaganda to give the impression that there is the chance one could advise the greatest of our Collective.

The diversity our Order possesses is a strength that our Lady seeks both to encourage and take advantage of. I would never dream of claiming to know the mind of our Lady; indeed, the very idea that she would listen to mortal minds is something of a mystery, but I am convinced that our Mistress sees the value in perspective, for there are no flaws in her judgment, as she is beyond such any longer.

Everything she does has a reason behind it, and ours – and yours – is not to question, but merely comply.

The rationale of those who are Chosen is only an enigma when viewed through the lens of mortal eyes. We cannot apply such limiting biases to one such as Lady Vathila, who does not see the galaxy as we do. Remember that she has led us to this point, and will continue to lead all Sith to greatness.

ON THE FINAL ASCENSION

Have you considered what happens after you die, reader?

Do you fear it?

Reactions range. I know this. Some are terrified of the unknown abyss, while others are content in their beliefs, and still more are apathetic, not concerned about what happens when their mortal shells die. Those attuned to the Force are no less divided, as while we know there can exist some form of permanence beyond death, the specifics are elusive.

Are the spirits we have seen real, or copies of personalities derived from those who truly lived? Is the purported Netherworld an unending purgatory where those within are condemned to eternal solitude? Is it worth persisting beyond death if one is to be bound for eternity, condemned to be anchored in one place forever?

All Sith and Jedi have felt such at one point. For some, the chance of persisting beyond death is something to achieve above all else, while others shrink from such a desire. Yet there is always that persistent question of the unknown. Some would prefer to just expire, others wish for there to be a Beyond.

What all agree on is that once one has died, they will never be the same again.

For some that is too much.

Some try to accelerate this path.

Views on death range between individual Sith and the various Orders. Some see it as a transcendence and the deceased are honored and respected. Some have little respect for the dead and seek to avoid such by any means. No Order rushes to death, but some shrink from what it implies more than others.

Now what are our own views? Why am I speaking of this now?

We do not fear what comes next. The Order of Lady Vathila has no doubt as to what awaits us when it is time for our physical bodies to expire. After all, we desire only one thing in the end, and that is to serve our Mistress and ensure she succeeds.

In life, and in death.

Our Order has existed for millennia, and in that time, there have been many who have died. They have grown old, or they have been injured, or contracted an illness that could not be alleviated. Such happens, such is their fate. Yet they are still serving today, they contribute in their own way to our goal.

How?

They undertake the Final Ascension, a hallowed ritual only the most devout of our Lady’s servants participate in. It is only offered to those who feel they have nothing more to give but their power and strength. Their bodies have failed, but their spirits are determined to continue serving.

This devout sacrifice is one which is taken with the utmost seriousness and respect. These greatest of servants are taken to sacred grounds, under the watchful eyes of our Order, and after recounting their deeds and recognizing them for their service, Lady Vathila draws their spirits from their bodies and binds them to herself, freeing them from their ailing and broken shells to serve eternally.

A higher honor is difficult to imagine.

Such events are irregular, but should you join, you will attend one before long. It is a celebratory event, a time where we reflect and bond, knowing that our purpose after life is secure. We do not have to fear a black abyss of nothingness or an eternal purgatory, for we know that we shall be instrumental to Lady Vathila in the quest to recognize her vision.

In death, as in life.

ON THE PROMISE OF THE FUTURE

We are reaching a closing, as I have spoken all that I can on this Order, and I trust that I have accurately and comprehensively given you a clear picture into our existence, one which you may have initially found intimidating, but now should hopefully find more approachable and understandable.

Doubts still plague your mind, certainly. I would be surprised if they did not.

After all, this has not been the first time such declarations have been given. How many Sith have promised the downfall of the Jedi; the conquest of the galaxy?

Many have.

All have failed, or their victories proven to be fleeting.

Why will now be different?

Reflect on what I’ve said; reread if you wish: I’ve spoken much of the past, but consider the words on the future; imagine the future if you will. Where will our Lady’s vision take us? What is the future of her Order and the Collective as a whole?

What will be your future?

I will propose another question; perhaps an odd one, but one I have not mentioned until now. There is a burning drive within our Order, one which also persists to varying degrees throughout the Collective as a whole, but it originates in us. It is the emotion that drives us, one that is not simply devotion and servitude to our Mistress, but one which augments these desires.

What drive is this?

In a word, it is hope. Certainly not a unique drive, as this same hope consumed our forebears for millennia. The hope of Sith supremacy, of Jedi extinction, of power and glory, of authority, of peace and justice. Hope is many different things to many different people. What I ultimately hope for may not be what you do.

If we did not have hope, then we would not have been driven to where we are today.

That is what the Collective – and our Order – offers the Sith; those who have been broken and scattered; who have experienced and seen defeat after defeat of our kind. Those who have been tempted to give up, seeing no path to victory.

We find them, or they find us, and that drive once more awakens in them.

Do not underestimate what such a simple emotion can accomplish. Sith are driven by passion, after all.

Such is what the Order of Vathila exemplifies. It is a singular, beautiful, logical, and powerful vision of the future. Of disparate men and women united in common cause, beyond philosophy, species, gender, or age; beyond the petty disagreements and infighting of the past. Of finding others scattered throughout the galaxy to join our glorious union, from the waning Jedi to the self-taught Sith, those who long for their shackles to be thrown off and their eyes to be opened. 

These men and women wander the galaxy, some of whom call themselves Sith, and remain apart from us.

We bring them to us.

We give them a purpose. We give them power. We instill pride, desire, and hope.

And, reader, this is no false hope based on empty platitudes and promises. I have relayed the story of our Lady; I have shared our philosophy and vision. I have shared the promise of a galaxy where the Jedi have been rendered to a fate worse than death, and only the worthy shall rule the galaxy.

I fully believe in this beautiful vision of the galaxy, and have devoted my life to it. To dedicate myself to one who is not Lady Vathila, whose vision has created all that you experience now, would be a betrayal of both myself and her. The Order of Lady Vathila is for those who are dedicated to achieving this vision by any means necessary.

I have done all I can to convince you.

It is up to you to decide how this vision is best fulfilled.

Or, even, if it should be fulfilled at all.

Chapter Text

SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

THE ORDER OF DARTH REVAN

ON MASKS AND LEGENDS

We move onward, reader.

Let us speak of Revan.

Even today there are those who seek to unravel the mystery, secrecy, and contradiction that is Revan. A war hero of the Old Republic, a pariah of the blinded Jedi, a conqueror, a champion and redeemer. There are few who have walked as many paths as he.

Light and dark; hero and villain; defender and aggressor. Revan was all of these things. All of which need to be understood in order to know who Revan was. The Jedi tried to mold him into something he was not; he rejected them. The Sith tried to use him as their pawn; he broke free. His mind was washed clean, and yet this could not change him permanently; it could not stop him.

You cannot look at Revan in a singular light. He continues to defy simple classification. He evolved throughout his life, and yet in the end, he spent much of his life firmly on the side of the light, and ended it in the twilight and shadow. Does this mean he cannot be considered Sith?

Reflect carefully on what I wrote in the first pages, and you should know the answer; I will return to this question regardless. Notice, too, how I do not attach a label to Revan. He is not Jedi. He is not Sith. He simply is.

Consider .

What comes to mind when you think of Revan?

His feats? His victories? His story?

I suspect those may follow, but what you think of when you hear of Revan is the mask.

The mask taken from a Mandalorian warrior, placed upon the face of a Jedi willing to act against a plague that was spreading across the galaxy. From that day forward, a symbol was forged. The red and black mask of Revan evoked fear in his enemies, resolve in his soldiers, and hope in his allies.

Revan became more than a man, a soldier, or Jedi. He became an icon.

An icon which has lasted millennia, all those who hear of the legend of Revan associate him with the mask. You know of the mask. But do you know the man underneath it? Do you know his face? His voice?

Do you even know his name?

There is a more important question.

Does it matter?

Revan is a symbol now; an icon of strength and power. Of unity and charisma. One does not need to know the man to know his legacy. That can never be changed, regardless of what his allegiance was. His legacy is eternal, and the Order of Revan will spread it across the galaxy.

Now, even if one does not need this knowledge to understand the impact Revan had, one needs to know who he was to understand how such a man cannot only exist, but remain consistent.

Allow me to tell the story of Revan.

ON REVAN

Who Revan was before he put on the mask is unimportant. Most do not know anymore; more do not care. There are stories of a promising Jedi who was on track to become one of the youngest members of the Jedi Council. There are stories of a defiant rebel who was viewed with scorn and concern. There are stories of a Jedi who snapped upon witnessing the carnage of the Mandalorians.

Whoever the man was before the mask, he died on Cathar.

He was reborn as Revan.

Before Cathar, Revan had confined himself to spreading a message of Jedi intervention; rallying men and women to stand against the encroaching Mandalorians. His actions prompted the shortsighted and foolish Jedi Council to demand he cease his actions and return to the Order. He steadfastly refused.

After seeing a species nearly driven extinct, Revan knew defeating the Mandalorians was no longer a matter of morality – it was a matter of survival.

Even the Jedi Council could no longer deny the brutality of the Mandalorians. Yet like cowards, they stood to the sidelines, and Jedi who would not stand idle joined Revan and fought back against the Mandalorians with the Republic. Revan himself took command of the ineffective Republic military and began the process of turning the tide of the war.

The Republic was unprepared for an enemy like the Mandalorians; their strategists and tacticians outwitted at nearly every turn. One could not adequately respond to the Mandalorians. Not without compromising their own values.

Useless rules in war. The Mandalorians did not follow rules.

Revan did not either.

He took the Republic down the path to victory; one that was long and bloody, yet also necessary. The Mandalorians faced an enemy that would no longer hold back. Ambushes, feints, traps, assassinations – within months, Revan reforged the Republic military into a weapon as brutal and efficient as the Mandalorians.

The Jedi feared he was falling under the sway of the dark side as the war approached his end.

A perspective ruled by fear and tinted lenses. Revan was not falling. He was merely doing as he had always done.

Learning.

Adapting.

Succeeding .

All of this culminated with a final showdown where the Mandalorians were utterly crushed at Malachor V, while Mandalore the Ultimate and Revan dueled to the death. No mere mortal could stand against the might of a Force-user like Revan, and thus, Mandalore was defeated – though not before he set Revan on the path that would solidify his legacy.

Following the words of Mandalore, Revan and his forces went deep into the Unknown Region, where they believed there to be another waiting threat.

One they found, as they stumbled upon the Sith Empire of Vitiate.

At the time, Vitiate was an unknown, even amongst the Sith. A shadow that pulled the strings of the ‘true’ Emperor of the time, Lord Amaurth, son of Naga Sadow. It was he that Revan and Malak faced. Though not Vitiate’s equal, Amaurth was more than capable of dominating the two Jedi before him.

Not even Revan could resist the power the ‘Emperor’ commanded, and just as he had done with Mandalore, Amaurth commanded Revan to conquer the Republic in his name. Revan and his forces departed, intending to fulfill the commands of the ‘Emperor.’ But not before they had an army to challenge the Republic.

This led him to the Star Forge.

The structure of the rakata is not important at this point.

What matters here is that Revan broke free of Amaurth. So strong was his will that he turned the commands of the ‘Emperor’ into his own desires. Revan no longer intended to conquer the Republic for the Sith – he intended to claim it as its own and turn it against the hidden empire he knew lurked from beyond.

No one knows why Revan decided to adopt the mantle of Sith Lord as he began his conquest of the Republic. Perhaps it was a remnant of Amaurth’s command. Perhaps he did it to elicit a planned response from the Jedi. Perhaps he, like many Jedi, knew of the legends of the Sith. He knew who and what they were.

Perhaps, reader, he recognized that was who he was.

A man; a conqueror; a warrior who had the strength to challenge a galaxy and succeed.

Revan’s campaign against the Republic did not fare as well as that against the Mandalorians. Billions flocked to the emergent Sith Lord, remembering the hero who had saved the Republic. Trillions more stood aghast at what he had become. More accurately, they stood in fear, because they knew what the masked lord was capable of.

Ironically, it was Revan himself whose actions made it more difficult for him. The Republic military was no longer composed of the weak-willed and tactically incompetent. None could match Revan, but there were enough to blunt his edge. The machine Revan had forged was now being turned against him.

Something Revan privately expressed pride in.

Revan never hated the Republic. In his eyes, he was saving it with the intent to make it better. To purge it of the bureaucracy and rot that thrived within it. To remake the Jedi into a force deserving of the power they commanded, no longer ruled by the simple-minded and weak, but the decisive and pragmatic.

For Revan, it has never been solely about himself. Power was a tool for him to achieve greater heights for those he felt deserved his protection.

Being Sith does not inherently remove one’s care of that which is not yourself. Remember this.

With the rakatan Star Forge, Revan knew that it was only a matter of time until he won – and the rest of the Republic knew it as well, though they were ignorant of the ancient factory. The Jedi, acting out of self-preservation and fear, planned a mission to send a team of their best Jedi to capture or kill Revan. Assisted personally by Bastila Shan, the Jedi successfully boarded, and faced Revan on the bridge – tired, but alive.

Questions remain as to why Revan let them go as far as they did, and why the Jedi sent Bastila instead of enhancing the strike team. Questions we will never know the answers to.

This merely proves the Jedi of the time as incapable warriors.

Revan faced the Jedi alone, and struck down most of them before he faced that which plagued the Sith of old – betrayal. Malak knew what Revan was facing, and took the opportunity to strike and seize the Star Forge and Revan’s forces. This allowed the Jedi to gain the upper hand on Revan. They wiped his mind and took him away.

Revan was reborn again, under a different name perhaps, but it soon became apparent that he was still Revan.

He was trained by the Jedi once more, and tasked with tracing the path he had once forged to find the source of the Star Forge and stop Malak once and for all. He found many allies along the way, and faced many enemies. Slowly, the traits of Revan manifested themselves again. His plans, his power, his charisma. No one aside from those who knew made the connection, and merely assumed he was unnaturally talented.

When he was captured, he escaped and confronted Malak once more, the façade the Jedi had attempted to create fell apart, and Revan knew who he was once more. Not everything, but the most important veil had been lifted.

Revan stayed with the Jedi, and with the Republic after this revelation.

Why, you ask?

Would a true Sith remain with the enemies he had come to conquer? Would he abandon what he had been fighting for thus far, and the allies he had collected on his own to merely return to what he was?

Stop thinking through the lens of labels.

Was Revan now fighting for the Republic, and against what he had created? It depends on your perspective. In a way, the war Revan waged was against his own creations. First the Republic, and later his Sith Empire. But his Sith Empire was in the hands of a traitor; one who had tried to kill him.

That could not stand .

Did Revan fight solely for revenge?

No.

But it would be foolish to think revenge did not play a part. Not after Malak annihilated Taris. Not after Dantooine was razed. Not after Bastila Shan was captured. Not after Revan knew that Malak had betrayed him.

It was inevitable that when Revan learned who he was, that he would succeed. It is not a surprise that he found the world of Lehon. It was not a surprise that he turned Bastila away from Malak. It was not a surprise when he stormed the Star Forge and faced Malak – this time handily defeating him.

Revan once more became the hero of the Republic. A title well-earned.

This was not the end of his story, however, though much of what happened immediately afterwards is shrouded in mystery. The Jedi did not want him back, nor did Revan wish to return to how things were. Much of his memory was still hidden, and yet the threat of the Sith Empire remained, even if he could not remember it.

So he investigated on his own, wandering for several years to bring light to this phantom menace. To the rest of the galaxy, he vanished, and was not there to face the newest threats to the Republic. Others fought in his stead, and one of them eventually brought Revan back; convincing him to cease his search and raise his family.

Revan, having made little progress, agreed, and for several decades, he lived in peace and faded into the annals of history. This was shattered when Vitiate’s puppet, Lord Amaurth, invaded, and Revan, his children, and his allies once more were forced to take up arms. It was a war that once again ravaged the galaxy.

And once more, Revan ensured that it did not fall. Sacrifices abounded as his wife and son became casualties of the conflict, along with many other defenders of the Republic. But it ended, and every last Sith invader was killed. Revan and the Jedi Exile took control of the Jedi Order afterwards, and the war had done what decades of peace had not.

It had made Revan remember.

It made him remember everything. And when he put the pieces together, combining what he knew before the war and what he learned after, he saw that the threat remained. Amaurth was not the true villain. He was simply a minion to something far greater.

This time he would not simply stand by. He and the Exile departed with a team of their best Jedi Knights, and put into motion orders which would ensure the Jedi remained ready in the event of their failure. The Republic was in no state to fight another war, and this was their best option. Armed with Revan’s knowledge, they easily found the Sith Empire.

Had they faced anyone other than Emperor Vitiate, they would have succeeded.

But Vitiate was not a mere Sith. He was something greater.

Something not even Revan could kill.

One wonders if Revan would have still turned against the Sith had it been Vitiate and not Amaurth he met the first time. Who can say? We know only that when he stood before the true Emperor, he failed.

So he was captured once more. The fate of the other Jedi is unknown. They do not matter. That would presumably be the end of his story. For Revan, it was not. His life was elongated as the Emperor used him to learn about the galaxy beyond his Empire. What he did not know was that Revan fought back as best he could, and delayed the inevitable invasion.

Long enough for an era of peace. Long enough for the Republic to rebuild.

It came at a cost. When Revan was freed by the Hero of Tython, he was not the same man he was before. Another rebirth. A final evolution. Yet even still he remained committed to his goal of protecting the Republic from Vitiate. Ignoring the commands of the Republic and Jedi Council, he traveled to the Foundry, found and put into operation by his Jedi in secret long ago, and began planning the final downfall of Vitiate.

He very nearly succeeded.

The Revanites of Dromund Kaas found their place beside him, even as his own descendants rejected him, and together they planned, trained, and finally struck. The droids of the Foundry descended upon thousands of Imperial worlds as he drew upon millions of converts from the Republic and Empire alike into his armies, much to the concern of the Jedi, and the fear of the Sith. None who served the Empire of Vitiate were spared, causing the Republic to disavow him.

A foolish mistake. A showcase in how the Republic had learned nothing.

Revan directed his embedded agents against the traitorous Republic, and pressed his assault on the Sith. The final assault on Dromund Kaas is considered among the bloodiest battles in the entire Revanite War, culminating in half of the Dark Council themselves facing Revan and his armies. Those same Councilors died that day, and Revan struck down Emperor Jadus in a battle that destroyed half of the sprawling Kaas City. This victory left him wounded and drained.

The arrival of Darth Nox and her army was enough to break the Revanite lines and the newest member of the Dark Council faced the legend once more, his mask bloody and broken, knowing his true end was coming. Had he been at full strength, I suspect not even Nox could have defeated him.

But in his state, she emerged victorious, and stuck him down.

Revan fell that day, but through his actions, he ensured that he will never be forgotten.

ON THE ALLIES OF REVAN

Revan was considered one of the most dangerous duelists and powerful Force-users known to Jedi and Sith. But in the end, raw power was not enough for Revan. There are many others before and after him who exceeded him in these aspects, but only a few possessed some level of this and the natural charisma Revan commanded.

This charisma was essential to Revan gaining the power he did.

There are very few who could successfully convince a galactic military that they could do a better job. There are very few who could successfully persuade legions of Jedi to defy years of training to defy the Jedi Council. There are still fewer who could return under a different banner, and whose simple request could convince so many to abandon what they have fought and lived for to join him instead.

Revan had a natural affinity for talking to anyone of any age, gender, or species and making them feel positively about him; making them want to follow him no matter where the path led. This innate trait continued after his mind-wiping by the Jedi, as the crew of the Ebon Hawk consisted of a Mandalorian, a twi’lek teenager, a wookiee outcast, a Jedi recluse, a fallen Padawan, and an assassin droid.

A crowd that should not work together, but one who thrived under Revan’s direction.

This highlights another essential aspect of Revan – his lack of prejudice. Revan treated his alien allies exactly the same as his human ones, and while the Republic never acknowledged it, the Sith under Revan continued this. Malak, in his short-sighted and arrogant way, used what time he had in command to reverse many of Revan’s more tolerant policies. A decision that ultimately harmed them in the future.

Why did Revan hold such a view?

Does it even matter?

I would argue it does, if for no other reason than to perhaps illustrate a consistency of Revan; a practicality many Sith would be wise to pay heed to. Revan did not think in terms of what he preferred and wanted. He pushed such needs to the side in favor of the long-term; the big picture.

If he did not have a plan to rule the galaxy, why did he deserve it?

If his plan would not work, why should he consider it?

Humans are but one species in this galaxy. A numerous one perhaps, but hardly the most dominant, the strongest, or the smartest. He was smart enough to realize that a future of human dominance would spell doom after a few generations, and ultimately have the opposite effect. More to the point, such ignorant beliefs were just that – ignorant.

Revan understood this truth about power.

Those who have the ability to claim it should do so.

Who they are doesn’t matter.

There is a certain morality that people have attached to Revan. That he was good and kind to those around him. In light of who he was, that was certainly how the Republic and Jedi wanted him to be perceived. A man redeemed of the evil of the Sith. But consider every major action Revan took.

Ask yourself how many decisions were made because he was good, and how many decisions were made because it was practical.

One can do morally good and practical things.

When compared to the self-destructive and petty policies of Darth Malak, many actions seem good by comparison.

Cease thinking in such moralistic terms.

Morality is a lie. It is propaganda to win and lose the hearts of the galaxy. It is a tool used to further and end agendas. Recognize it for what it is, and see the actions taken and not the label ascribed to them.

Did Revan perform good deeds because he was a good man? Some of them he certainly made because of morality. His crusade against the Mandalorians was started by a burning desire to bring justice for the genocide of the cathar.

But one could very easily argue that many more were because of practicality.

We do not know what Revan was thinking under the mask. We can only judge his actions, and what followed.

Revan thrived in large part because he did not hold himself aloof over those around him. He cultivated friendships and loyalty from those who followed. Saul Karath, the Jedi Exile, Canderous Ordo, and many others. These relationships saved their lives at times – as well as gave him powerful allies in the future. 

In the case of Bastila Shan, his relationship to her allowed him to turn her from Malak and back to him. Malak turned her through torture, fear, and brainwashing. Revan brought her back through loyalty and his love for her. Notable proof that Revan’s feelings for the friendships he made were genuine.

It was one reason the Jedi Council feared him even after his ‘redemption.’

They saw how easily he could destroy their platitudes of control over others, and how far too many were willing to listen; who were hungry for a reason to throw off the binding decrees of the Jedi.

Ultimately, Revan understood the inherent power of allies; how to gain, keep, and utilize them for his ends. Perhaps he would not phrase it so cynically as that, but by the end of his life, perhaps Revan understood the underlying logic that followed his actions – even if he had not realized it until then.

ON THE PATH OF REVAN

What should one take away from the story of Revan?

Is there a lesson? A moral?

I say there is, and it is simple.

Your destiny is not certain .

Nothing more or less. Revan is living proof that one does not need to follow a certain path to be considered Sith. Revan achieved what all true Sith aspire to do – reject convention, reject what is expected and normal, and forge his own path regardless of the wishes of the Jedi or the demands of the Sith.

He walked many paths, he fought on multiple sides, and he was exposed to the truth of the power the Force offers, a truth that many do not even bother to experience for themselves. A truth irrespective of light and dark, but an examination on the power each hold. Consider what would happen if Revan had only stayed in the realm of the light or dark exclusively?

Would he have achieved nearly as much?

He would not have.

No matter where he went and what happened, Revan inevitably became stronger for it. He found new allies and friends. He rallied armies to fight for him. His charisma and power was such that it transcended shallow allegiances as he proved in his final war against Vitiate’s Empire. The setbacks and defeats he suffered, he learned from them.

The journey of Revan was ultimately a quest to achieve his true potential. He did not know it, but if one believes in such things, one can argue that the Force was guiding him. His rise as a Jedi, and his eventual evolution to Sith, then the clash of these ideologies when his mind was wiped by the Jedi achieved a kind of synthesis between the two.

Something not Sith, but not quite Jedi either.

A shadow firmly within the light. Light which tries to choke the shadow, but can never quite destroy it.

Revan’s life was an evolution, and he needed to see the strengths and weaknesses of Jedi and Sith; the light and dark, before he could achieve his potential. This ascension was unwittingly slowed by Bastila Shan, and only through the Pure Sith War decades later, after suffering loss and a bittersweet victory, was he reminded of what he had endured.

Even still, the ascension was not complete. His final test was Emperor Vitiate. A test he failed at first, but through his will he persisted; he endured; he resisted and used the Emperor in small, yet crucial ways.

All his life had led to this catalyst.

People speak of Revan going mad when he began the massacres and war on the Sith by himself. They called him a traitor when he called the Republic unwilling and incapable, and the Jedi fools who had reverted to the ways of failure. His own descendants called him a fraud and fake. Even many of the Sith were aghast when they learned the extent of Revan’s promise to those who opposed his vision.

Revan had ascended when he dwelled in the Maelstrom Prison.

He had achieved his full potential.

He understood.

His trials, experimentations, and flirtations with all sides of the Force finally coalesced into his final evolution, one which was strong enough to challenge a warring galaxy. New heroes of the Republic and Empire had risen, and the age of Revan had presumably long since passed. Yet when the shadow of Revan fell once more across the galaxy, all realized the frailty of the systems which possessed them.

The galaxy has fallen into predictable cycles. Republics, Empires, Jedi, Sith; only in the past centuries have any of these groups begun to adapt to address their failings. In the era of Revan and the Old Republic, he represented an alternative to these trite groups stricken with problems their leaders continually failed to solve.

Revan nearly broke the stranglehold the galaxy was in, and perhaps that was the purpose he had come to recognize.

Not a galaxy of Jedi or Sith, but a galaxy commanded by those who were worthy of such power and responsibility.

His journey may have ended, but his path offers valuable lessons for those willing to look for them.

ON CONTRADICTIONS AND EVOLUTION

Revan’s constant moving between the Jedi and Sith – the light and dark – is disconcerting and disquieting for some. Not without reason, but Revan is unique in a way the defectors of Jedi and Sith were not.

Despite the sides he fought for changing, each was ultimately an evolution of his understanding of power.

This teaching – or I should say, discovery – began when he was a young Jedi. A youngling as powerful as he was, inherently knew the flawed nature of the Jedi teachings of restraint, serenity, complacency. Endless platitudes that would disgust any who believe they are destined for something more than a glorified religious organization.

Revan was shaped by the Jedi nonetheless. He cared, and while the Jedi told him to ignore his feelings, he instead embraced them. Life without emotion is cold and sterile. Why should Revan have bowed to the archaic Council when he, knowing his strength, could act? The answer is simple – he should not have, and he did not.

The Mandalorian Wars were the first trial of Revan. His first evolution.

The brutality of war became clear to him – both what it cost, and what it demanded. He was forced to shed his naïve beliefs and make hard decisions that cost the lives of millions, decisions that left planets destroyed or in ruins, and decisions which solidified the Jedi’s belief that he was falling to the dark side.

It certainly speaks to the fragility of the Jedi that they are so threatened by actions demanded in war. Revan was not falling, he was merely adapting to what was required. This was, and continued to be, his strength.

Read this over again – does this sound like your typical Jedi of the Old Republic?

Or does it sound more like a Sith?

Revan was always one who was drawn to the power, and he unconsciously grew into what he was destined to become. What was the difference between Revan at the end of the Mandalorian Wars and the one who emerged with the fleet of the Star Forge?

The lightsaber?

The equipment?

Even with his mind tampered with, Revan’s goals had not changed, and he continued to evolve.

Are you aware of something, reader?

Revan was never trained by a Sith. He was never formally part of any Sith Order. Jedi propaganda said he was a Sith, but that was merely what he called himself, as well as those who followed him. Every single ‘Sith’ fought in the conflict was trained by Masters who answered to Revan himself.

Revan forged a Sith Order on his own, acting on nothing but instinct and belief. He had no tomes or holocrons to guide him, and considered the tombs on Korriban more of a curiosity than anything else. He did not need such instruction because he already knew what it was to be Sith. A brand of Sith teachings unique from others, but Sith nonetheless.

Malak, once more, can be blamed for such a perception. He was not content to live in the shadow of what Revan had built, and wanted instead to rely on the teachings of the old Sith. A flawed belief for a man who was ultimately a pretender to power. One who used power to lash out like a caged animal, and was subsequently put down like one.

Let us discuss the greatest question of Revan – his redemption.

What basis for this supposed redemption is there?

Is it because he fought against Malak and won? Is it because he once more led the Republic to victory? Is it because he gained the support of many Jedi once again? Is it because the Jedi say he was redeemed?

Think critically, reader.

If Revan was redeemed, then why would he leave again? If he was trusted, why were he and his descendants not welcomed back in the Jedi Order? If he was content, why would he jump once more into conflict at the first opportunity? I cannot understate the effect the Jedi brainwashing had on Revan, and how even still he knew that what he was living was off.

He knew he was no Jedi. He knew there was strength in the light and dark. But too much of his mind was blank, and so he attempted to make himself content with family and peace. Yet even still, during this time he never stopped training and preparing. Growing more powerful. He forged new alliances and friendships.

Cultivated loyalty.

And when his ties were gone, and the spell the Jedi had placed on him was broken, he knew what had to be done.

Revan is not considered a Sith because he doesn’t fit into simple and straightforward boxes so many use. He is a complex individual with a story both Jedi and Sith have preconceived ideas of. Perhaps you thought you knew who Revan was before this? No matter.

Revan earned the loyalty of those around him. He showed little mercy to his enemies, and rewarded those who followed him. He was a leader who gained power through example, manipulation, and cultivation. He did not command through pointless fear or pain. He did not fit the image of what people would call ‘Sith.’

He merely had, cultivated, and gained power.

How he used this power does not matter.

Such is all one needs to be Sith.

Do you understand now why a man like Revan is included as one of our own? I should hope so, for it is the basis upon which the Order was founded. You now know about Revan, it is time we move to his legacy, the Order of Darth Revan.

ON THE FOUNDING OF THE ORDER OF DARTH REVAN AND THE REVANITE WAR

The Order of Darth Revan was not always called such, and, in fact, precedes the founding of this very Sith Collective. Even today, the Order can trace their roots back to the time of Vitiate’s Empire when the Order of Revan was slowly but surely beginning to spread. Back then, there was only speculation and theory as to the specifics of who and what Revan was.

But there was enough for those who looked to recognize that he was someone to emulate.

Called a ‘cult’ by the Empire, who saw it as a threat to the Dark Council and the established power structure of Dromund Kaas, they tasked many to find and stamp out these heretics. Imperial Intelligence deployed their infamous Cipher Agents, the most skilled bounty hunters were hired, and Sith Lords sent their Apprentices or even went themselves to raise their status in the eyes of their peers.

But notably, little to no progress was made. Those who were sent found themselves killed deep in the jungles of the planet, while others found only stragglers and low-level acolytes. Many more were converted, and became double agents for the ever-spreading Order.

The Dark Council decided to take direct action.

Darth Charnus of the Dark Council took charge of the effort, spending considerable resources to find the best the Empire had to offer, whose loyalty and dedication were unquestioned. Two young Sith were selected and tasked with this mission, both sent by their Masters. Apprentices Vauner of Darth Baras, and Nox of Lord Zash.

Both successfully infiltrated the Order, though what happens next is where both Sith diverged. Nox attracted more attention than she expected, and was forced to keep a low profile, and used her position as an initiate to gather information on the Order – as much as she could. What she found was shocking.

The Order of Revan had expanded far beyond Dromund Kaas. What she had found implied they may have even penetrated the Republic. She conveyed this to Vauner who had advanced further than she had, who revealed that he had passed the trials and met the elusive master of the Revanites.

Their missions presumably complete, they returned with Nox turning over everything she had gathered, while Vauner did the same – revealing that the one behind the Order was none other than Darth Charnus himself. Charnus was executed by the Dark Council mere hours later.

There is one small factoid to be aware of.

Darth Charnus was not, in fact, behind the Revanites at all.

Another of the Dark Council was – Darth Tari, of the Sphere of Mysteries. It is unknown why Vauner assisted in the preservation of the Order – given his later actions against the Order of Revan, it is unlikely he was truly loyal. But perhaps he thought there was merit in their beliefs and did not see them as a threat to himself – but a threat to other Sith.

Given his stance on many of his peers, this would be unsurprising.

The information Nox provided was seized by Darth Jadus, presumably to be utilized if it had not been for Jadus’s staged death – though knowing what happens, this was no doubt an intentional decision. Believing themselves safe, the Order of Revan continued to expand and recruit. Nearly a year later, several events happened that changed the Order forever.

The first was Darth Jadus returning to take the mantle of emperor, and among his first actions was the purging of the Revanites from the Empire. A task force led by the Hand of Jadus, Cipher Nine, utilized the collected information Nox had provided and made sweeping arrests, interrogations, and executions. The streets of Dromund Kaas were filled with smells of flesh and hair as the Revanites were burned before the people.

With the full might of Imperial Intelligence and the Hand of Jadus commanding their most elite, the Order of Revan found itself suddenly under harsh assault on Dromund Kaas, culminating in the revelation that Darth Tari was responsible for the Order. She fled the Dark Council and Imperial Space, as the Order of Revan was crushed under Emperor Jadus.

This was certainly not the end, but Tari knew it was only a matter of time before others were compromised. She and the other leaders of the Order prepared to go dark, and that was when they heard the rumors of the Maelstrom Prison and that the Jedi had rescued an individual – one who was believed to be Revan.

They eventually tracked him to the Foundry, and saw for themselves that the rumors were true. They wasted no time and pledged themselves to him, and he accepted, promising to fulfill what the Republic would not and cast down Emperor Vitiate, and the False Emperor Jadus once and for all.

At the time still having access to the resources of the Republic, Revan provided them cover to operate freely in their territory, while training many of his acolytes personally to protect themselves properly against the assassins Jadus was sending against them. Then he waited, gathering his strength and forces.

Seeing the vulnerability of the Sith after the defeats at Corellia and Ilum, he began his invasion, and the Order of Revan descended upon the Empire, led by the ‘One Who Ascended.’ The Order of Revan, supported by the rakatan droids of the Foundry, proved more than a match for the reeling Empire, even one which had been hardened by Jadus.

When the Republic threatened intervention and disavowed Revan, the Revanites who seeded the Republic ranks crippled and sabotaged planets, fleets, and armies before leaving to join their brethren as Dromund Kaas came into sight. Throughout this time, Darth Tari had ascended to become Revan’s right hand, responsible for expanding his influence. It was due to her that the army of Revan spread throughout the galaxy, and as her Lord landed on Dromund Kaas, she was at his side.

Many Sith fell to her that day, and she is recorded as slaying one of the Dark Council personally. Yet despite their conquests, it soon became apparent that it would not be enough. As Dromund Kaas was being attacked, it was revealed that it had been deliberately left open to attack, the result of a long-term operation by Cipher Nine, and a payoff of sacrifices, feints, and counterintelligence that Revan expressed admiration for.

Darth Vauner, now the Emperor’s Wrath, led among the largest forces ever compiled by the Empire of Vitiate against the Foundry. Through the enigmatic tools at his disposal, Cipher Nine began feeding information to the Republic informing them of additional traitors and even after Jadus’s defeat, spent the rest of his days hunting down Revanites before disappearing forever.

This resulted in reinforcements being cut off from Revan, and the Republic soon having the strength to defeat the remainder of his armies. With no choice, Revan proceeded with his goal, determined to succeed and execute the Dark Council who remained on the planet. But Darth Tari did not accompany him to Kaas City.

She was given a final mission. The contingency plan of Revan.

Were he to die, she would continue his legacy.

She escaped Dromund Kaas and regrouped with many survivors after contingency plans were executed. Once numbering hundreds of thousands, mere hundreds remained. Tari vowed that one day they would grow strong enough to challenge the galaxy once more, but they had been ordered by Revan to wait for the right opportunity.

And wait they did.

Deprived of the materials they had access to even in the days before Revan, much was passed down through personal anecdotes and stories. Holorecordings of Revan became treasures, and those who had known him personally became something akin to prophets. Speakers for the deceased.

Deceased, but not gone.

No member of the Order of Revan believes he is truly dead. He had vanished once before. All know that if the spirits of Jedi and Sith can linger, so can Revan. They do not know what it would take to summon him, but it is a goal they consistently work towards. But this remains far in the future.

The Order of Revan continued recruiting, slowly and carefully. Many members had children and they grew up hearing the stories. His philosophy and beliefs were refined into what they are today. Their small size and exclusivity likely played a role in their survival through the invasion of the Eternal Empire, and later the Dark Age.

They nonetheless persisted, passing down what they knew to new initiates and acolytes. They were growing to a size where organization was needed. But they feared that might attract attention as the galaxy rebuilt itself, as they were still at risk from outsiders.

That is, until they were discovered by an emissary of Lady Vathila. Surprised to find such a group, initially there was uncertainty in what to do; how these Force-users were to be treated. They were Sith, but not traditional Sith.

Yet wise Lady Vathila saw there was no need for pointless conflict, and proposed something else: a Collective of Sith of differing philosophies and beliefs, who were beyond the petty betrayals and infighting, who would eventually become powerful enough to challenge the Jedi and then determine who deserves to rule the galaxy.

They agreed, and the Order of Darth Revan was formally founded – as well as the Sith Collective proper. The second Order of the Sith Collective, and the oldest Order to date. Over the centuries, they have refined themselves into what they are today.

This is their history; now know what they are.

ON THE TRINITY OF REVAN

To understand the Order of Revan, you must understand the underlying structure. Like many Orders, they have one, though unlike many, it is less than straightforward. In their quest to emulate who Revan was, they eventually took what they knew about Revan, and extrapolated it into the mold from which they would build their Order.

This Trinity is based both upon the actions of Revan, as well as the acts he performed throughout his life. All parts of this Trinity are Revan, though they are distinct from each other, as Revan’s methods and allegiances changed, the underlying goal was always the same. The Trinity, like Revan himself, does not appear to be a coherent whole on the surface, but the undercurrent of connections and goals ultimately solidifies them as a singular entity.

The first aspect of the Trinity is the Crusader, the Revan who was a leader and rallied others to fight by his side against the greatest threats of the galaxy. These threats changed, from Mandalorians, to the Republic, to the Sith, and many more who stood in the way of his vision for the galaxy. This aspect of Revan emphasizes his charisma, his leadership, and his vision for what he believed the galaxy should become.

The second aspect is that of the Lord, the Revan whose skill in combat was almost unmatched. A warrior who led soldiers, Jedi, Sith, and more into the chaotic fires of combat. A terror to their enemies, and an inspiration for allies. A reliable and dependable resource when needed, and who expected reciprocation from those around him. This aspect of Revan is his martial prowess and tactical skill. The Revan who would conquer the galaxy by his own hand, along with many others.

The final aspect of Revan is the Ascended, the culmination of his life where Revan embraced his destiny and achieved his potential. A man who refused to be broken even in the midst of multiple failures, and whose trials made him see a truth about the Force that neither Jedi nor Sith could envision. An embodiment of power so strong that even with fewer numbers and resources he brought devastation to the Republic and Empire and maintained the resolve to slay any who would threaten what he knew he deserved. This aspect is Revan’s power, knowledge, and wisdom, the latter two of which were the culmination of everything he had learned, and the former that which he finally claimed for himself.

It is from this Trinity that the Bodies of the Order of Darth Revan are built upon. There are three, one for each aspect. What each Body does reflects their aspect, and as such, offers a greater range of possibilities for prospective initiates.

Consider carefully the implications if you are tempted. Read further. The Order of Revan asks much of its disciples.

Let us discuss the specifics.

ON TRAINING AND REBIRTH

The first step to joining the Order of Revan is becoming an Initiate. Any who are welcomed in the Sith are eligible, but commitment is expected. Initiates are placed through a battery of tests to gauge their skills and power. The length of this period varies depending on the individual in question, but one will not be allowed to proceed until they have been approved

The next step is the Trial of Rebirth. The first trial those in the Order of Revan will experience.

Each Body has trials after this – though each is different – but to become a proper member of the Order of Revan, all must undertake the Trial of Rebirth. Revan was reborn several times throughout his life, and each time he evolved; he grew stronger. So, too, are the members of the Order reborn throughout their lives.

Initiates are taken to a cave that is steeped with the power of the Force, tailored and amplified through experimentation by the Vessels of Revan which induces visions and hallucinations in those who enter. The purpose of the trial is for the Initiate to face their past and history, and kill it.

Specifics are vague. The trial has the potential to be lethal, as some who undertake it do not return and are not mentioned again. But without exception, each one who succeeds emerges with a colorless gray mask in the image of Revan, as well as a new name. A new identity. Appropriate for the new life they are about to embark on.

These men and women are not unrecognizable from who they were – they retain their sense of self, but they are also no longer the same. They have grown and evolved in such important ways that they could not retain their old identities. Such should be expected when one is reborn. The Trial of Rebirth is the only trial a member of the Order of Revan can take repeatedly. Some of the oldest members of the Order have undergone this trial three to four times, and they have grown stronger for it.

For most, this trial is experienced only once.

After this, they have become true Disciples of the Order of Revan. Those who have been reborn, but whose place has not yet been determined. The following period is short, and only serves to prepare them to enter into one of the three Bodies of the Order. Most know their choice before undergoing the Trial of Rebirth, but sometimes they will reconsider.

When their path is set, they spend time preparing themselves for the trials necessary to enter the Body of choice. Some take weeks… most, months… a few, years. In the meantime, they will serve in other, more menial capacities, assisting new Initiates and those within the Trinity, though at the same time, honing themselves as much as possible – especially if their path has been chosen.

Another point of note is that the Trial of Rebirth is treated as a ‘reset’ within the Order of Revan. Who you were before does not matter after rebirth, and this had led to those who undergo this trial multiple times serving in different Bodies throughout their lives. Some, such as Lord Soslan, have served every aspect of the Order of Revan in his past lives. Such is rare, but highly commendable.

But the Initiates and Disciples are not the true Order of Revan, only a stepping stone. We shall now discuss the Bodies of the Order of Revan themselves.

ON THE RESOLVE OF THE CRUSADER

Let us begin with the first Body of the Order of Darth Revan, the first aspect to manifest; the Resolve of the Crusader, Revan’s leadership and commitment to the grand strategy of galactic conquest. Those who exist within it are the ‘Crusaders of Revan,’ an elite collection of strategists, recruiters, and leaders.

The Crusaders are in the middle of the Bodies, numerically, yet their role within the Order, as well as the Collective as a whole, is crucial. They are responsible for orchestrating grand schemes and plans to be executed throughout the galaxy; it is through them that the ranks of the Collective grow as they spread the truth of the Sith, Revan, and the Force across the galaxy.

Do not let their focus distract you from their power. They are effective warriors in their own right, but their true strength is that of seeing beyond singular conflicts and wars. Now in possession of previously lost texts, recordings, and holocrons of Revan and his disciples, as well as many other great leaders throughout history, they act with the decisiveness greater than any admiral of the Triumvirate who controls the galaxy.

These strategists are but one arm of the Resolve, one who we know will play a crucial role in the wars to come. Their other, subtler arm is that of their recruiters, some might even say ‘diplomats.’ They move silently throughout the galaxy, observing and speaking to those identified as having the potential to be Sith.

All they must do then is show such individuals the truth.

A simple task, yet a crucial one. It takes skill to turn someone from their path onto another, but these Crusaders understand that when convincing someone, the most important aspect is sincerity and conviction. Those who are genuine shine brighter than those who play a role. These Crusaders are true believers, and their flame spreads easily as a result.

Among the Sith, the Crusaders stand out, as they eschew dark armor and the traditional clothes of shadow for gray tunics and robes that many times hide their physical features. Such are not important; the physiology of a Crusader means little compared to who they are and what they offer. Their masks are colored white and gray, and cover their faces completely.

How does one tell leaders apart if they cannot be easily recognizable?

It is simple – one watches. No Crusader is the same, but you will quickly learn not to rely on their outward features to identify and know who they are. Simply observe; watch; listen. They teach a valuable lesson in looking past the appearance and to the heart. It is a good lesson for any Sith to learn.

But to become a Crusader, one needs to pass their trial. Specifically, the Trial of Wisdom. Martial prowess is not as important, and thus, it has a reduced place in this trial. Those who undertake it know that they will be tested on the tenants and philosophies of Revan, and familiarize themselves many months before.

Much of the trial itself is only known by the Order, but it is known that they are tested by one of the holocrons of Revan himself on a nameless world deep within. A place where the Force is strong. It is the tomb of Darth Tari, whose spirit is rumored to judge those who seek to complete this trial, for few knew Revan as she did.

Crusaders who pass this trial are reborn once more. They emerge with a title they claim is bestowed upon them by Darth Tari, a sign of what they will achieve in their new life in service of the Order. Their lightsabers are reforged as well, changing from the multitude of colors each member has available into a stark and enduring silver blade, a sign of the unity of the Order and their rejection of the selfish in favor of the greater plan.

The Crusaders of Revan stand as the legacy of Revan’s vision. A vision many may not agree with, but a vision they are wholeheartedly devoted to.

Think on what this vision could be. I will address it soon enough.

ON THE WRATH OF THE LORD

Most Sith will be familiar with those from the second Body of the Order; the soldiers and warriors of the Order, the legion of ‘Revanites’ that swell our ranks. An army within the Wrath of the Lord, the aspect that brought fear to those who were Revan’s enemies – as well as respect.

The men and women who compose the Revanites are master duelists, martial artists, tacticians, and forces of nature that few can stand against. Drilled and dedicated to reaching physical peak, they are more than capable of matching their rivals in the Militant Order, and indeed, wait for the day that they will be unleashed upon their enemies.

Until then, they plot. They wait. They prepare.

One cannot become a Revanite if they are weak in either body or mind. Unlike the other Bodies, the trial comes later. First, they must prove themselves, as each member is put through a training regime that is nothing short of torturous. This training has and will continue to kill those who undertake it. A Revanite who cannot survive in a blizzard against wildlife while half-starved and frostbitten does not deserve to wear the armor of the Revanite.

Does this sound extreme?

Revanites do nothing in half-measures. They do not duel with practice sabers or sticks, but with live lightsabers. Much is on the line, as replacement limbs must be earned, and are not freely given. If one cannot continue to survive while deprived of other body parts, then they are a weak link which must be struck from the armor.

Does this sound unnecessary?

Revanites have experienced every pain imaginable, in ways even other Sith view with wariness. All done willing; all done in preparation for the coming war. Acid, insect swarms, poison – Revanites are exposed to the pain each of these bring; there is not a single Revanite who has not lost multiple limbs or organs at one point or another. Ones eventually replaced, but it nonetheless serves as valuable knowledge.

But why push themselves to such arguably sadistic extremes?

It is penance, in a way.

Revan suffered at the hands of Emperor Vitiate for centuries. Is the temporary pain of a few months or days even remotely comparable to what he experienced? If they cannot endure even a slight taste of the hell he endured – a hell he triumphed over – then why are they worthy to bear his mask?

This does not mean they all endure stoically and in silence. You will hear them quietly ask for strength from Revan; prayers of a sort. True or not, nearly always it instills in them a resolve, provides a strength in their misery. They believe Revan is watching over them, and that if he could endure, so can they.

The Revanites are forged through fire and blood; pain and misery; despair and triumph.

Faith .

The Revanites are a force that is not merely an army; they are unbreakable. The trials their peers and rivals go through are nothing compared to what they endure to become Revanites. In the end, nothing can phase them. They see armies as trivial; they see Jedi as shadows compared to themselves; they hear torture and laugh; they experience pain and smile.

They are ready for the Trial of Strength.

There is no preparation needed. Their training has led up to this point. They are given a simple task. Conquer for the Order of Revan. The vague wording is intentional, as the Revanites are allowed to be only as ambitious as they wish. Their conquests could be as grand as a planet, or as simple as an organization. It does not matter what they claim so much as what can be contributed to the Order; yes, planets have indeed been targeted, but there have been small mercenary groups, information brokers, corporations, and other groups, tools, and organizations which have been brought under the control of the Order of Revan by the hand of the Revanites. 

Any means, be they violent or subtle, are tolerated, but they have no resources, no support, and cannot return until it is completed. Of course, many times this is done in the Outer Rim. Not always, but for the majority this holds true, as we still wish to ensure our presence is not revealed to the galaxy.

Not yet.

Such planets, organizations, and resources are commanded by crime lords, despots, bounty hunters, mercenaries, businessmen, military personnel, or independent governments. They are targets no one of importance will miss. How it is dealt with is up to the individual. Some slaughter indiscriminately. Some recruit or corrupt others to fight for them. Others slowly collapse their target over months. Still others infiltrate and take control from within.

On the surface, such a test appears trivial. It appears simple and straightforward. But it serves to separate the soldiers from the commanders. It is a test of wisdom and intelligence as much as strength. Victory can be achieved without igniting a lightsaber. Governments can fall by words as well as bombs. A well-placed bribe can achieve many different outcomes. Charisma can convert as easily as violence.

Regardless of how it is done, should it be accomplished, they will return and the trial will be complete. They are given the black and red armor of a Revanite, and permitted to color their mask black and silver, while receiving a blade of crimson. They are worthy of being called Revanites, and will spend their days training the Revanites of the future, honing themselves further, and preparing for the final conflict against the Jedi.

I suspect Revan would be pleased at those who have forged themselves so completely in the art of war. He would certainly have respected them.

ON THE FINALITY OF THE ASCENDED

Those who reside within the Finality of the Ascended, the Body founded on the third and final aspect of Revan are few in number, even more so than the Crusaders. This does not inherently imply they are considered greater than the other Bodies, or more powerful, or more important. Indeed, one can easily argue that the Revanites and Crusaders have more to offer the Sith.

Yet there are none who best embody who Revan was. They, the ‘Vessels of Revan,’ are the embodiment of the power Revan commanded. As he ascended, so have they. The moment they are accepted into the Finality, the Trial of Revan begins.

This one is different compared to the other trials, as it is not a simple test with obvious goals and tasks. It is said that no Vessel knows how long their trial will last. They are tasked with ascending as Revan did; reaching an understanding of the Force, of power, he did, and their trial will be complete.

It is perhaps comparable to achieving a kind of enlightenment.

What does one do to complete this trial?

The most effective solution is the simplest. They follow the path of Revan. They dedicate themselves to learning all there was to know of him, they consult his holocrons, they read the accolades and accounts from his friends and allies. They read the propaganda Jedi and Sith spewed towards him.

All to understand.

This is merely surface-level commitment. It requires far more.

I misspoke earlier. This is not comparable to achieving enlightenment.

The Trial of Revan is a pilgrimage.

A pilgrimage whose direction depends on the being in question. Some travel to the places and planets of Revan’s conquests. Infiltrators who long for a glimpse of what once was; the power and glory felt as the enemies fell. Journeys to Malachor V, Cathar, Mandalore, Dromund Kaas, and more.

Others follow the path that led him to the Star Forge. To the fields of Dantooine, the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk, to the Dune Sea of Tatooine, and the black depths of Manaan. Sometimes they return with artifacts and ancient technology. Trifles mostly, but ones the Collective can put to use.

Others travel to places of power; nexuses of power, tainted with light or darkness. Dathomir, Korriban, Tython, Dagobah, sometimes in dangerous places such as Ahch-To where the Jedi always watch. Others obscure and deep in the galaxy such as Ziost and Voss. All to see if they will hear a singular word of acknowledgement from Revan, whose spirit lingers on.

Some have even risked going to Revan’s tomb, housed now within the former tomb of Freedon Nadd on Dxun, guarded ferociously by the Mandalorians and False Followers of Revan. Sometimes they assume identities to gain entrance and are denied, others try and infiltrate without permission. Some are repelled, a few succeed. It highlights a fact that all those in the Order of Darth Revan know:

“That the tomb of Revan rests under the control of the False Followers and not in the hands of his True Disciples is an insult that can never be forgotten. The day shall come when the Pretender to the Legacy will be stuck down and the False executed for their heresy.

“The Mandalorians shall suffer for their actions. It is known.

“Our hearts burn with justice and vengeance. It will be extracted in blood and fire.

“We are Revan’s Chosen. They are not.”

So said Darth Oridian himself. The Revanites long to be unleashed. The Crusaders eagerly plot the downfall of the Mandalorian Union.

But for the Vessels of Revan, it is a personal insult.

For they have a connection to Revan the Mandalorians can never possess.

What is truly special about the Vessels? They are indeed powerful Force-users, capable of manipulating the power to a degree even the Order of Vitiate expresses respect towards. They have no care for what side of the Force they draw upon, as the Force is power and its usage towards this end is justified.

What is special about the Vessels is simple. Their trial ends when they ascend as Revan did. All, without exception, have claimed this occurred when Revan appeared to them; in visions, in dreams; as a disembodied voice. In that moment, they understood in a way they had not before. They were reborn, and bestowed a title by Revan himself – and return, knowing what they will do.

Each Vessel of Revan has the authority to act in his name, for they know that he watches over them. It is not quite as explicit as the Avatar of Marka Ragnos, and no other Sith claims to have witnessed anything resembling this, but the Vessels do not care. They know that Revan only appears before his most devoted and faithful.

Is this true?

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Perhaps it does not matter.

It would not be surprising if it was true, nor would it be surprising if it was another spirit using them. Either is plausible, but regardless of what is behind the Vessels, the truth remains that they believe it is him. This completion of the trial allows them to color their helms in the colors of Revan – black and red, and don the black robes he wore and wield amethyst blades.

They do not control the Order of Revan, but they are the only ones who can claim to act in his name.

ON THE WILL OF THE TRINITY

Every Order has a hierarchy, a chain of command, a leadership council. The Order of Darth Revan is no different. The ‘Will of the Trinity’ commands the Order of Revan, and decides who they place on the High Council, as well as the direction the Order should take, its relationships with other Orders, and other tasks associated with leadership.

Though the Order of Revan does not choose their leaders in a traditional way.

The Will of the Trinity does not pick their own. Each member is chosen directly by the Body they represent, and how each is chosen is different. From the Crusaders they select one who has received a title befitting of a leader, as well as taking their raw skill and accomplishments into account. Simple compared to others.

The Revanites each must declare for a seat on the Trinity, and there are two stages that follow. The Revanites who did not declare themselves candidates instead rally behind those that do. How those who declare gather support is unimportant, but they are given seven days to do so. The one who gathers the most support moves to the next stage.

It is simple – defeat all other contenders without killing them. Killing another Revanite disqualifies one from holding any position of importance, and in the few times this has happened, all of them once more undertook the Trial of Rebirth. Usually, such does not happen. But never is there a case where a Revanite declares and then withdraws.

Even if they are outnumbered and doubted, they cannot show such to those who follow them.

If the one who wins also enjoys the support of the majority, they achieve that position for as long as they wish to hold it. If the victor fails to secure a majority of support, the process begins again. There is nothing stopping the defeated from once more declaring, but they may find their support diminished. This will continue until a victor emerges.

The Vessels do not bother with such ceremony or even discussion. Through their own instinct, they seem to know exactly who should represent them. It is unknown by what criteria they know who is most suited, but it certainly has to do with the title they believe Revan has bestowed upon them – and who best embodies what Revan sought to achieve.

There is no discussion. No debate.

Only certainty.

Together, these individuals comprise the Will of the Trinity. The Aspects working as one; the Bodies working together in harmony. They do not concern themselves with infighting, for they know such is pointless, and are completely focused on the greater plan.

Who they select for the High Council of the Sith Collective varies, and will change depending on unknown whims. It is speculated that whoever sits on the High Council is a reflection of the Order of Revan’s priorities and dedication. Though this is merely speculation, as the Will of the Trinity does not address such rumor and hearsay.

Currently, Darth Oridian of the Wrath of the Lord sits on the High Council.

Learn now those who lead the Order of Revan.

ON LADY KAZHAVOAH, THE COMMANDER 

The givin are a people of cold logic and numbers. They have produced some of the most intelligent beings the galaxy has ever seen. Yet if one speaks to a givin, you will find that they are rarely what any would consider happy or content. They believe the galaxy exists at the whims of math and science, and we unknowingly proceed, our fates decided before we were even born.

Such fatalistic drivel.

There was one such givin who was not content to rely on calculus and certain numbers of math; who could not accept that such was all that the galaxy entailed. Heretical thoughts for a givin, who hold up numbers as the equivalent of a god. Though it was obvious why she felt this way, for she had a gift few of her brethren could understand.

She felt the Force.

The Force cannot be explained, quantified, or justified by the numbers so many of her kind had come to rely on. Yet driven by her nature, she sought to find a way. She traveled across the galaxy, she spoke to many of the finest scientists on the Force; walked the halls of the Jedi, studied at the Imperial Library on Bastion, and found nothing.

All of them tried to entice her, promising answers, but she saw through their recruitment propaganda and denied them. She had no allegiance to the Empire; she did not see the Force as something to be exalted like the Jedi. The concept of using the power herself, along with her talented mind did not enter her thoughts.

But we noticed. Noticed a woman who was tantalizingly close to the answers she sought, which had evolved from explaining the Force in impossible terms, to what the purpose of the Force was – and what it should be used for.

She was brought in as a wide-eyed initiate to our Sith Collective. She was immediately drawn to Revan and his own view of the Force, as his story best exemplified to her how it could be used throughout one’s life, no matter what side they found themselves on. It offered power to shape the galaxy.

Power she took.

She was reborn as Lady Kazhavoah, Disciple of Revan, and a woman with a clear mission. She knew she belonged with the Crusaders, for she had a mind that would be honed to a weapon unmatched by any Jedi or Sith in the art of strategy. Unlike many, she did not take her trials as soon as possible, but prepared herself in other ways.

She did not restrict herself to the affairs of her own Order, but learned of the others who make up our Collective. It is through many of her efforts that the Order of Revan has become as interconnected with our Collective as it is today. Numbers may not explain the Force, but it can have many uses.

Even before taking the Trial of Wisdom, she was essential in overhauling mundane yet critical aspects of our Collective. Supply chains and logistics which were sporadic and poor were made robust and reliable. Data gathering procedures were implemented, creating a steady stream of numbers for her to observe.

But she knew better than to rely on pure numbers. Numbers could not convey the nuances of the Force and the quirks of personality. They, like the Force, are a tool.

An understanding I believe she reached, when she knew she was ready for the Trial of Wisdom.

She left, and returned with the blade of silver and the title of ‘Commander.’ A title that sent a clear message, one that sent reverberations throughout the Crusaders and the Order of Revan itself. None had been given a title of such clear authority. It signaled that the time was approaching for action, and it was clear who was to lead them.

Merely days later, Lady Kazhavoah sat on the Will of the Trinity, knowing clearly her purpose, which is to prepare the Order of Revan for war. A war against seemingly impossible odds, but odds she knows can be overcome. Through her innate gift of numbers, and nuanced understanding of her Order and others, she has been the architect of a plan to cripple the galaxy and leave it vulnerable for us.

One piece in a larger plan.

A piece she knows, and will finalize before moving to refine another one. The numbers give her plan strength, the power the Sith wield give her certainty. The Great Crusade is falling upon the Order of Revan, and she shall be the orchestrator of their victory.

ON DARTH ORIDIAN, THE CONQUEROR

Darth Oridian is an imposing figure one does not easily forget. The gen’dai are rare in the galaxy, and those who can wield the Force are rarer still. Oridian wandered the galaxy for centuries, if not longer, searching for purpose. War stirred his blood and he developed a skill in the art of conflict, but it lost its previous luster after he realized what it amounted to.

Nothing .

Pointless .

War for the sake of war accomplished nothing. Killing for the sake of it was unsatisfying. Frustration mounted as he saw a galaxy ruled by fools and the selfish; war and death that would benefit no one but the rich and powerful. The corporations who profited off conflict, the smugglers and hawkers, the criminals and depraved who descended upon the galaxy in a cycle that seemed planned, but was, in fact, merely a consequence of war without purpose. A galaxy without direction.

Oh, purpose was claimed, but he saw through the façade provided by the powers of the galaxy.

Perhaps some found purpose regardless.

Yet it never reached him.

So he wandered the galaxy, purposeless and looking for a reason to endure. Be it destiny or fortune, he was found by one of our Collective. Even we were apprehensive of inducting an alien as dangerous as a gen’dai into our midst, but such concerns were quickly dismissed. We would not give into fear merely because one instinctively had power.

Perhaps he was not enamored with the Sith initially, but this changed when he began learning. The legend of Revan called to him, a man who had a vision for the galaxy and used war to fulfill that vision. A purpose that Oridian knew had been missing his entire life. It was not long after that he joined the Order of Revan, and took the Trial of Rebirth.

The name he had lived with for so long was gone, and Darth Oridian rose in his place. He had no hesitation in joining the Revanites. He knew he was to be a weapon of the Order of Revan, the finest instrument who would lead them to victory. His unique biology made the trials and torture the Revanites endured almost trivial. He could have merely endured what the others did, exploiting his inherent racial advantage.

Yet he did not, and instead insisted on harsher equivalents. Oridian had never once come close to death. Something he felt he needed to experience in order to understand, and afterwards, appreciate life. The training of Darth Oridian is one surrounded by legend and mystery; some say there were times he was rendered limbless and the stumps burned to stop regeneration. Others believed he was doused in lava, or that he was ejected into the void of space.

Regardless of the truth or lack thereof, by the end, Oridian had tasted death at least once. As well as carving a name for himself from the other trainees. Perhaps it was not fair to put a mortal against a gen’dai, but the galaxy is hardly fair, now is it?

He soon undertook the Trial of Strength. All knew he would pass with ease. Oridian knew it as well, yet also knew it was a test. He had greater sights than merely being a Revanite, he knew he would sit amongst the Will of the Trinity. It would have been simple for him to butcher everyone on the planet, but that was not, he felt, what Revan would do.

Not yet.

The planet was managed by a group of mercenaries controlled by one of the Hutt Cartels. The government was a corrupt collection of criminals and cronies, and those who resided just wished to live another day, held hostage by the whims of mercenaries and the iron hand of an unjust law. It was a game rigged from the start.

No opportunity. No hope for things to be better.

Revan would not stand for such injustice, and Oridian would not either. Yet he had no intention of merely killing the oppressors. The people must be willing to claim power for themselves. He infiltrated the planet as quietly as a gen’dai could, and began assassinating the mercenaries one by one and collecting their weapons.

When he had gathered a sufficient amount, he brought it before the people, all of whom had now heard of the shadow killing the mercenaries. Fear now began to dominate the powerful, as they believed they had attracted the attention of a Jedi. The truth was far worse, though they would not know it yet.

Oridian stated that he had begun the task of claiming the power they were within grasp of, but if they wished their independence, it was to be fought for. Through a likely rousing speech, the people rallied around Oridian and prepared to take control themselves. Their first demonstration resulted in hundreds of mercenary casualties, the numbers of the people swelling as Oridian commanded them and showcased his own power.

After many weeks, the city was conquered and the corrupt leaders were faced with armed and hardened citizens who they had exploited. Begging for their lives, they pleaded for mercy. Oridian stood back, and waited to see what they would do. Gen’dai do not smile, but they do feel satisfaction, and little was more satisfying in that moment when those he had commanded took power into their own hands.

In this case, power also meant justice.

Now normally, that would be the end of his trial – an exceptionally done one, I might add, but Oridian was not satisfied. The world he had conquered was only one part of a larger network controlled by this hutt. A hutt whose name he learned, and whose people he knew were scattered in nearby systems.

His trial would not be over until the hutt was dead.

It would not be over until his enemy was not only defeated, but crushed.

He spoke before the people once more, stating his intention to finish what had been started, and that he would take whoever wished to assist on his mission to claim the other worlds from the grip of the hutt. Thousands pledged to follow him, and they turned their world towards preparing for the coming conflict.

It began several months later. Darth Oridian and his army of civilians-turned-soldiers descended upon world after world – eleven in total, in nine different systems – their numbers continuing to grow as more were brought under his influence. Fear gripped those who followed the hutt, and mercenaries and turncoats fled, leaving him to face the wrath of Oridian and his army that now outnumbered and outmatched anything that could be thrown at them.

Oridian had preferred to let the people exact their power, but the hutt he killed himself. A right he had earned through blood and battle. His trial was now complete. The worlds he conquered now exist and thrive under his guidance, and serve as a few, yet valuable worlds under the Sith. The Collective certainly owes Oridian a great deal for his efforts.

He returned in triumph, earning the title of ‘Conqueror.’ Perhaps against targets who could not hope to match him, but he achieved more than mere conquest. He longs to prove himself against the greater powers of the galaxy, but knows his time is not yet. But it will happen eventually.

Soon after, he put himself forward to take a seat on the Will of the Trinity. All knew he would emerge victorious, but there were three who nonetheless put themselves forward. Such conviction even in the face of such power, one cannot help but respect it, and Oridian clearly felt the same, as each one who challenged him is a close advisor to this day.

Even among Sith, there are few who possess the raw skill and power Darth Oridian commands, though as we see demonstrated, his most unexpected skills could prove to be his most powerful.

ON LORD SOSLAN, THE REVANCHIST

Despite the connection each Vessel of Revan claims to have to the long-dead Lord, it is ultimately that of a stranger.

For the man who is now Lord Soslan, that is not as true.

His story is different. It is filled with questions and unknowns. Yet there is a path and history if one observes closely. Rumors started many years ago. Of a man of long silver hair and eyes wandering Mandalorian Space. A man of fair skin and dangerous composition. A man who the whisperers claimed was an exile.

A Mandalorian exile?

Perhaps, perhaps not. That man continued to remain nearby, as if waiting for something to happen. Perhaps an attack, perhaps someone to bring him home. A man who sat alone in silence, but displayed a fierce chivalry when he witnessed violence against the defenseless. A man with no home, but one with a code.

A man who was suspicious of a galaxy that appeared to reject him.

A man with an intangible power who carried no lightsaber. Many approached the man, some to kill him, others to speak to him, others to watch him. The ones who fought, died; the ones who spoke, left disappointed; the ones who watched were executed in dark alleys and ejected into the void of space.

Though some recall him later sending packages to Mandalorian Space. Perhaps simple correspondences. Perhaps warnings.

Who was this man?

A man without purpose or direction. You notice a pattern?

I would certainly hope so at this point.

Though this man was different. He knew what he wanted. He simply had no means or drive to get it. He was a man who had lost something close and dear to him; or perhaps had been denied something he sought.

When approached by the Sith, he was not inherently trusting. He knew of the stories, yet there was a clear question hanging over him. A curiosity. A need to see for himself what was truth and what was lies. It was the moment he learned of the Order of Revan that the previous scales that remained fell from his eyes.

He revealed more of himself. He claimed to be a descendant of Brianna Kae, the Handmaiden who had fought beside her future husband, the Jedi Exile – as well as Revan himself. Eventually, descendants of both families joined as one. The blood of Revan flowed through him; a power he knew should not be contained.

When asked about others, he merely stated that Revan would be ashamed of what his descendants had become.

He provided a much-needed perspective to the Collective. A man whose knowledge has proven highly valuable.

Though this meant nothing to him. He had found his place, and he would fulfill the legacy of Revan his descendants could – or would – not. He performed the Trial of Rebirth and eventually took his place among the Crusaders. His time here was spent planning, learning, and growing. He learned more truth about Revan in those short years than he had in his previous life.

Yet something did not satisfy him. He did not feel complete. Restrained. Confined. Confused.

It later dawned on him that as he learned more about his distant ancestor, his own outlooks changed. An evolution of his own. He was not the same man who had been reborn, and knew he must do so again. He was reborn a second time, and without hesitation, joined the Revanites.

He pushed himself the hardest of any who he trained with. His fair hair and skin were cut, burned, and broken as he endured the torture of their training. Many times he felt he would die, yet he persisted, insisting he was pushed on by the command of Revan himself. Delusions of a half-dead man?

Perhaps.

Does it matter if he emerged alive?

He eventually succeeded in passing the Trial of Strength, and honed himself into a duelist who only Masters such as Darth Oridian and the Avatar of Marka Ragnos himself could defeat. He had knowledge of ancient echani combat arts, one of the rarest being the Eternal Heart. Designed for three to work in harmony, he nonetheless trained as best as he could with just himself.

As he trained, he continued learning. Soon, lightsaber forms and endless repetition were not quite enough. Again, the feeling of discontent filled him, and he knew then that he was on the correct path. As Revan had evolved throughout his life, he would do so as well. Another Trial of Rebirth, and Lord Soslan emerged, and this time he joined the Vessels.

Was this his ultimate goal, and he did not choose so immediately because he felt he was not worthy?

Perhaps. It is not for me to judge.

This was, in a sense, the culmination of his life. His heritage he had wished to know and utilize. His pilgrimage took him across the galaxy, though he did not solely focus on Revan, but all those who had followed and fought beside him. The stories go that many sought him out as he traveled worlds steeped in the Force, but Soslan does not speak of his specific trial.

What is known is that he went to the tombs of those close to him, all of which remain in the territory of the Mandalorians and False Followers. Those of Bastila Shan, of Brianna Kae, of Canderous Ordo and Atton Rand, and of course, those of Revan and the Exile. He did not fight the Mandalorians.

He had moved beyond fearing them. But he left a small token at each location. Perhaps a clan emblem, perhaps a message, none know, but it did not put the Mandalorians at ease.

Lord Soslan soon returned after his visit to Mandalorian Space. He stated that the title of ‘Revanchist’ had been bestowed upon him by Revan, a title no Vessel had ever received before. It was clear that this was Revan’s greatest champion; the one who would be recognized as a speaker of Revan himself.

He was immediately placed within the Will of the Trinity, and his word is treated as law, though he rarely invokes such authority. But unlike previous Vessels, he watched the whole Order closely. He knows that conflict is coming, he knows that the future is in a galaxy in flames and the stars blacked out by fleets.

Soslan chose two to serve as ‘Extensions of the Vessel,’ a position that had previously not existed, and to this day, only two Extensions exist. A young human woman named Liliane from the Crusaders, and a male chiss Revanite named Darth Zaril’ista’naoris. He has since taught them the Eternal Heart, and to see it performed is truly awe-inspiring, as even the greatest duelists cannot stand against it.

A skill that few, if any possess. A skill Lord Soslan has developed with only one intention.

To kill the Failed Descendant who is Mandalore.

Lord Soslan may not be Revan, but to the rest of the Order, he is viewed as the closest thing to him. Even if they do not believe he speaks for him, they believe without a doubt that he is being guided by Revan and will follow him without question or complaint.

Soslan merely is waiting for the correct opportunity.

When it comes, he will not hesitate, for he knows that he commands with the authority of Revan, and more importantly, his power.

ON RELATIONS WITH THE ORDER OF DARTH NOX

If you have been reading and paying attention, there is perhaps a question that has arisen in your mind – or perhaps merely an observation. It is no secret of the Orders within our Collective, and the astute reader will have doubtless cast their eyes upon the Order of Darth Nox, who have become a valued part of our Collective.

Considering what you have read here, you may be wondering how, or even if, these Orders interact with each other.

The answer is straightforward and I will not mince words. The Order of Revan has not forgotten that it was Darth Nox who struck down Revan and prevented his conquest of the galaxy. They are not ignorant of the fact that Revan’s bloodline can be traced through some of the families of the Order of Nox. They know this very well.

They have not, and never will, forget.

Yet they are not mindless fools driven by revenge. The Order of Revan shows a cold practicality towards the Order of Darth Nox. They may perhaps despise the Order and those affiliated with it, but this does not compromise their overarching goal.

They do not forget the One Rule .

It is perhaps an example of the success of our Collective. In previous iterations, both forces would have destroyed each other while the Jedi emerge as the victors. Now though, they have a greater enemy. When the Jedi are vanquished and our shadow falls across the galaxy, then perhaps the Order of Revan will take their revenge.

At that point, it will be justified. But not before.

Until that point, both Orders will avoid each other and only act together when necessary for the greater plan. That is all our Mistress requires. We do not need to be friends to be allies, and if two bitter enemies can put aside their differences for a period, then there is no excuse for not doing the same.

In a way, the Order of Revan takes this as another sign of Revan’s favor. Even among the Sith, Revan shuns his own bloodline in favor of his chosen followers. Perhaps this perceived knowledge makes the proximity bearable. Perhaps it makes them feel superior. I cannot claim to know their thoughts.

I can only record my own.

ON THE LINGERING QUESTIONS

As has been mentioned throughout this chapter, you may have questions regarding the supposed descendants of Revan who live among the Mandalorians. Perhaps you thought they were false rumors or illegitimate ramblings? No, we know for certain that they are as close to the true descendants of Revan as one can find.

Yet, they are blind as the Jedi.

It is ironic that those who should understand Revan best, only know a singular aspect of him. They fail to realize – either through ignorance or choice – that Revan was not simply redeemed and brought to the light forever. Even his supposed redemption did not change him to the extent they would wish. Their version of Revan is not the truth.

They wish it was. Perhaps they are foolish enough to believe, so long has the lie propagated.

Lord Soslan is correct. Revan would be ashamed of them. He would be disappointed.

Yet the bloodline of Revan is worth preserving, as is the bloodlines of all the descendants. Fortunately, the survival of some and the death of the many is acceptable. When the Mandalorians fall in the coming conflict, the Order of Revan will assume control of the children and raise them properly, and ensure the bloodline continues.

If they cannot be salvaged, it will be preserved through other means. Modern technology can ensure that death is not the end of a lineage – or does not need to be. Their fate is sealed, and should Revan be lingering, he will be pleased his most loyal disciples seek to execute his will across the galaxy.

But the Mandalorians and the disappointing lineage they carry are only a small piece in a larger game.

The Order of Darth Revan offers much to those who are willing to sacrifice their very selves. It gives an opportunity for true rebirth. No matter your past, no matter your actions, evils, virtues, and flaws, it can all be washed away and forged into something new and pure. A clean slate. An enticing prize for those who feel shackled to life.

For those who feel their life lacks purpose.

Revan is a figure of inspiration and power. His Order promises the same.

All you need to do is allow yourself to be reborn – and claim it.

This offer extends to you as well, reader.

A simple and life-changing choice. Perhaps a little early in this book, but perhaps you need no encouragement. You need nothing else said. You know inherently this is where you belong. A burning that you cannot explain, yet feel all the same.

Perhaps akin to a calling?

I have told you all I know here. I have revealed any secrets I have. You must decide what to make of what I have told you. Do not merely rely on my words if you are skeptical. There are many from the Order who may provide context I cannot.

Nonetheless, the offer is extended; an opportunity to bear the mask and be reborn.

Will you take it?

Chapter Text

SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

THE ORDER OF SUPREME LEADER SNOKE

ON QUESTIONS UNANSWERED

And now, dear reader, let us discuss the enigma that was Snoke. As written previously, and at length, Snoke was not a Sith as many of us would recognize. He was not driven by the dogma or ancient teachings of Sith Masters and traditional practitioners of the dark side. Yet he nonetheless represents the most primal of dark side evolutions. A man who embodies the nature of the dark side, embodies what it means to be Sith – and did so without the trappings of the Order.

Perhaps that should be the first lesson to take from Snoke – one needs not tradition to thrive. One needs not tradition to grow. One needs not the familiar to forge something worthy.

And make no mistake, what Snoke forged has etched him into the annals of history. His titanic presence has eclipsed many of the so-called ‘traditional’ Sith. What he forged is worthy of respect, recognition, and honor as much as that we would give our own brethren.

Yet Snoke did not consider himself Sith. Why, you may ask? The truth is that we do not know. Perhaps he considered it unimportant.

And in truth, the question is irrelevant.

But perhaps these musings are too nebulous an inspection of the man, so let me share some details of the origins of this enigmatic figure. Where did he come from? Was he a political savant? A military commander? Nay, Snoke was a religious leader, once upon a time. A member of the Acolytes of the Beyond, he rose to prominence by dominating his rivals and followers through sheer will and titanic telepathic ability.

Or so many believe. I do as well. The Acolytes were a minor sect, hidden far away in the Unknown Regions. They had no power. They had no presence. Yet they had Snoke, and when he took control of the group, they would be transformed into something far greater than mere acolytes, dominating hapless civilians and performing rituals on unknown worlds.

Snoke was ambitious. He had vision.

He was learned, and had access to resources common and esoteric, so surely he knew of the Sith and their teachings. Given his likely age – though we know not the specific number – he lived through the rise of Darth Krayt and the One Sith. He may have taken and adapted such ideologies into his own.

Then again, were he alive today, he might scoff and object. His own writings – sparse though they are – paint an image of a man who disdained the Sith that he had encountered. Openly opining on their failures, especially those of Krayt and Palpatine, and integrating solutions to such problems into the society he created.

We may never know the truth.

The Acolytes of the Beyond kept historical records, but had little interest in sharing. Were they hiding something? Perhaps a less auspicious caricature of the Supreme Leader? Again, we do not know.

Continue further, reader. Come to your own conclusions. You cannot rely merely on my words to find the truth.

Take it as another lesson.

What we do know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is that Supreme Leader Snoke was a formidable being. His telepathic abilities unrivaled. His vision for a reborn empire without weakness or rival is still lauded even in the quiet backrooms of the Fellan Imperium – and even whispered about in the halls of the Galactic Alliance.

How many can claim to hold such a legacy? How many have faced the full might of the Jedi and so nearly tasted victory? In the final battle against his Jedi foes, Snoke fought them within their own minds – iron will against iron will. Though he was ultimately defeated, he should ever be remembered as one of the greats in the history of the dark side.

Come, reader, and let us explore the story of Supreme Leader Snoke, and the First Order he forged.

ON UNEXPECTED POSSIBILITY

To know the Order is to know the man. Who was Supreme Leader Snoke? Where did he come from? How did he rise from seemingly nothing to nearly toppling the galactic order?

The truth is, no one knows. Even his successors have only pieces of the puzzle that was Snoke. We know little of where he came from – only that he was an Acolyte of the Beyond for decades prior to his ascension. He studied the nature of the Force and the dark side, applying Acolyte teachings and forming his own conclusions – many of which are still in use by the Order. But most importantly, he honed his natural gift for telepathy.

The bits and pieces we have learned suggest he was always gifted in this aspect. One imagines Snoke as a youngling controlling the adults around him. It is a humorous image, and a frightening one – none are so fickle as a child that gets everything it wants. One might draw parallels to the rumored childhood of Emperor Vitiate – which is similarly shrouded in legend and uncertainty.

I am skeptical if this was what happened. If Snoke had such power at that age; if his parents were incapable of saying ‘no,’ then one imagines him growing into a petulant adult with narcissistic qualities that would put the most vain of celebrities to shame. No, such a personality clashes too strongly with the man who led the First Order to near-victory.

I suspect his abilities manifested later in life, or his parents were able to resist such compulsion. Again, only the Acolytes would know, and it is possible that Snoke was raised within that community itself.

What we know without question is what Snoke accomplished.

It started slowly, subtly, as all grand plans do.

It began with the First Order – a loose collection of disaffected Imperials and ne’er-do-wells. Imperials who were disgusted by the mockery of the Fellan Imperium, subsumed by sympathizers and traitors. Fury and hatred smoldered in their hearts as they saw how low their once-proud empire had become.

Yet these men were few. They were disorganized. They themselves were a pathetic shadow of the past glory they shrouded themselves in. Blind to their flaws. Blind to their failings. They only existed based on a memory, one with no hope, no spark, and no purpose.

The First Order would have faded into nothing had Snoke not seen the potential in this entity – and nudged.

Over years, slowly but surely, the First Order was subsumed through careful prodding by Snoke’s greatest asset: General Armitage Hux.

As a leader, Hux was ill-suited to military life. His tactical and strategic abilities were – even by his own grudging admission – mediocre at the best of times. But it was his voice which made him powerful. A brute may smash an army to pieces, but an orator may convince them to lay down their weapons. Hux? He convinced them to turn their weapons on their former leaders. Dozens of systems fell to the First Order without a single blaster fired in anger.

As Emperor Palpatine convinced the galaxy to kneel, General Armitage Hux convinced loyal, patriotic Imperial citizens to clamor for change. To queue before the First Order recruitment centers in astounding numbers. I dare say the man could convince anyone of anything and I hesitate to say there was anything he could not accomplish with his words.

Witness the power of a mere man. A mortal who was blind to the Force.

And how, as wielders of the Force, should we interpret a man like Hux? I would suggest reverence and awe. Consider, General Armitage Hux had no great power to sway or control through brute force – he was an average soldier and wasn’t even Force-sensitive. And yet he commanded legions. Controlled a multitude through his words alone. If one were to make an analogy or comparison, I would portray the man as the Grand Admiral Thrawn of propaganda. His insight and instinct perfectly attuned to his aptitudes. Where Thrawn was a military genius, Hux was a psychological one.

There is a lesson in that, reader. Never underestimate someone due to preconceived notions or internal prejudices. There are Force-users who are irrelevant, and there are Force-blind who move continents. Never forget this.

The Order of Supreme Leader Snoke has not forgotten. But I digress.

The First Order, in its reborn infancy, was a political movement. Hux’s dissertations flooded the Imperial HoloNet, and in the beginning, the authorities did nothing. Because as with anything that is truly dangerous, it appeared benign. Calls to patriotism. Calls for reform. Calls for greater authority.

It played out like a nativist screed and the public ate it up. The Imperial Diet welcomed the Omega Red Party into its chambers and through them, Snoke gained a small foothold in the national consciousness. The Party was disruptive to the status quo, but they were lauded by the masses in the Imperial hinterlands – such talk of patriotism and whatnot always plays well with people out of touch with the center of power.

Something else occurred parallel to this, a schism with the One Sith Remnant. At some point – accounts differ – agents of the Remnant came into contact with agents of the First Order.

Was this a rival faction?

Were they different Sith?

Was this an opportunity?

Through an… ‘intermediary,’ Supreme Leader Snoke opened a dialogue with Remnant leadership.

Darth Nihl.

Darth Maladi.

Darth Talon.

Darth Wyyrlok IV.

Discussions and cajoling and posturing and disagreement.

In the end, the One Sith Remnant were split on the issue. To join with this upstart man who puppeted an underling’s mind from light-years away – a man who was clearly not a Sith… or to continue in the shadows alone, but unsullied.

Darths Nihl and Wyyrlok IV chose independence, and continued to lead the One Sith Remnant – eventually culminating in the founding of the Order of Darth Krayt.

Darths Talon and Maladi, however, chose to join the First Order – along with a multitude of Remnant Sith who longed for revenge on the galaxy.

Snoke welcomed them with open arms, offering positions of power and authority where it was warranted. Though ever the pragmatist, he was careful to manage the new Sith, lest their ‘dogmatic views’ jeopardize his vision. Over time, the One Sith influenced the First Order, and the First Order influenced them. It was that amalgamation – coupled with Snoke’s stringent meritocratic philosophy – that birthed the Order of Supreme Leader Snoke as we know it today.

And so, they waited.

I’m sure you’ve heard tales of the Third Imperial Civil War. Of the defiance of the galaxy in the face of pure evil. Of tyranny brought low in the face of righteousness. Perhaps your only knowledge of the war is the dramatized romance holos that emphasize the torrid love affair between partisan leaders Finn and Poe Dameron – if I may be honest with you, dear reader, they are a guilty pleasure of mine as well. But such a view of the war is criminally one-sided. There are none who speak of the glory of the First Order in glorious terms.

Let us rectify this shameful omission.

For fifteen years the Supreme Leader pulled Imperial strings, until finally they snapped. Emperor Servius Draco was denounced by the planetary government of Sonwal in the Felin System. They demanded his abdication and moved to secede when it became clear he wouldn’t bend.

The Emperor unleashed his forces upon Sonwal. The resulting chaos and ruthless brutality brought denunciations from other worlds who had fallen under the sway of Omega Red. Dozens more worlds began to secede, and the Emperor sent out his forces to crush them as well. And with the majority of the Imperial military tied down in anti-partisan operations, well, there was no more opportune time than now.

In a surprise attack against the entire northeastern border, the First Order launched precision strikes against Imperial military targets and infrastructure. Bottlenecked fleets enforcing blockades or overseeing the reintegration of breakaway systems were ill-prepared for the appearance of First Order strike forces – especially once their siege dreadnoughts opened fire.

Groundside forces were annihilated through orbital strikes, while divisions of well-trained and well-equipped First Order Stormtroopers were sent in afterward to neutralize the survivors. These same soldiers were then sent out to secure First Order holdings before turning their attention to their Imperial counterparts.

When the first salvo of this six-year-long war came to an end, fully one-third of Imperial Space was under Snoke’s control. Between the fantastic skill and equipment of its soldiers, and the adroit application of Battle Meditation at a level not seen since Bastila Shan herself wielded the technique, one wonders if the First Order may have taken even Bastion in that first phase had they held numerical parity.

Alas, they were forced to consolidate their holdings and regroup. During that time, the war became a conflict of attrition. The lives of men and droids spent in the millions without gain on either side. Logistical difficulties making decisive breakthroughs impossible. Each world became a fortress. Every hyperlane chokepoint became a naval death zone. The military plans lovingly nurtured for decades prior to this now wallowing as the offensive ground to a halt. Neither side able to overcome the other.

As the years dragged on, the First Order became increasingly desperate. Their supplies running dangerously low in the protracted conflict. Doubt and even fear crept into the minds of Snoke’s advisors, some even daring to suggest they sue for peace. Supreme Leader Snoke would hear none of it, and with a fateful decision during the fourth year, he alone changed the course of the war and upset the careful balance between the combatants. 

He sent his personal assassins – the ‘Knights of Ren’ – to Ossus.

There they eliminated nearly the whole of the Jedi High Council. In one fell swoop, the Jedi Order had been decapitated and Snoke felt secure in neutralizing a future foe – one who might stand as an equal against him personally.

In the aftermath of the attack on the Praxeum, the surviving Jedi Councilors – Alivia Skywalker and Javian Shartan – appealed to the Alliance Senate. They called the First Order a galactic threat and urged the present senators to pass a declaration of war in solidarity with the Fellan Imperium.

Had the Supreme Leader not sent his assassins against the Jedi, perhaps the Alliance would not have interfered – or at least dallied long enough for the First Order to dig in further and make victory impossible. Was it a mistake on his part? Perhaps, it is not for me to judge – I certainly cannot fault the desire to kill the Jedi should the opportunity arise.

All the same, it was tactically brilliant but strategically disastrous.

Though it took years of fighting, the outcome of the conflict was decided the moment the Alliance Senate voted for war.

We have no records of the final conflict between Snoke and the last two Jedi Councilors. No unbiased records at least. The Jedi claimed it was a hard-fought battle but that they eventually prevailed, though strangely provided no details. I’ve no doubt it was a battle for the ages – one need only look at the cybernetics and cloned replacement limbs and organs the Jedi required afterward to understand this.

But I can assure you, it did not quite happen like the Jedi said it did.

We will come to the details in due time.

With the death of Snoke aboard the Supremacy – and the turning tide of battle – the First Order shattered. Each system was a nation, beholden to itself and cut off from the greater whole. It allowed the Alliance and Imperium to take them apart piecemeal. To their credit, the soldiers of the First Order were tenacious and the greater galaxy was bled white trying to take these fortress worlds.

There were those who managed to escape, however – Phasma, Ushar, Pryde, Maladi… desperately needed leaders. Fleeing to Wild Space, they returned to their hidden capital: Exegol. There they waited and plotted and came to a disturbing conclusion: they had lost. They had lost and they weren’t sure how to recover. They still had trained legions and cutting-edge equipment to spare, but not enough to continue the fight.

It was in their darkest moment that our Lady sent a herald to Exegol with an offer of refuge and purpose. The First Order would reorganize into a Sith Order, and they would serve as the martial backbone of the Collective should war ever come.

The leaders listened and debated amongst themselves. They were conflicted, but open. It was then that Darth Maladi reached out to Darth Wyyrlok IV and discussed the possibility of elevating the One Sith Remnant as well. As two Orders united in purpose, they could collectively bargain with our Lady.

A shrewd move for two depleted Orders, one that has influenced the actions of the Orders of Snoke and Krayt ever since. As I stated before, they are like sibling Orders – they won’t always agree, but they will always favor their personal alliance over any other consideration.

ON NOMENCLATURE

I’d like to take a moment to address something to avoid confusion on your part should you decide to interact with the Order of Snoke in the future – either as an outsider or a full-fledged member. The Order of Snoke does not refer to itself as the ‘Order of Snoke’ outside of its interactions within the Sith Collective. Instead, they refer to themselves as the ‘First Order,’ as they have since Supreme Leader Snoke conceived of the original organization.

This is because for all intents and purposes, the First Order still stands. Reduced in size, but not in spirit or structure. They are unlike any other member of our Collective for this reason. Most Orders are defined by the Sith who wield the Force. Yet in the First Order, such Force-users make up only a small minority, and they are part of a far larger and intricate civilization.

They adopted our naming conventions in their interactions out of respect, and a commitment to our mission. Yet make no mistake – they view themselves as part of the First Order; the ‘Order of Snoke’ is a formality – though one they will stringently adhere to when interacting with the Collective. They are nothing if not consummate professionals.

As this document was created by and for the Sith Collective, and for easier understanding and to limit confusion, the First Order will be referred to as the ‘Order of Supreme Leader Snoke’ in all instances of the present and future – except when referring to the organization prior to its elevation to the Sith Collective.

ON THE TRIUMPH OF PROPAGANDA

Read what this section is titled. Ponder it. Meditate on it.

It will not be what you think.

When people hear that Snoke has an Order, many times their instinct is to raise an eyebrow in confusion. Most shrug, a few question, and more just move on. This Order is one which does not grab the eye, for what exactly is there in the Order? What do they have that is not embodied better by another Order?

What is their draw?

What is their promise?

What is their purpose?

As you have read in earlier chapters, so often you know that the Orders are based around the philosophies and ideologies of the Sith their namesake is derived from. Yet for Snoke, you are more inclined to conjure images of the Stormtroopers, of the First Order, and all of his Order here is a continuation of it.

Some might say that it would be more accurate to call this the ‘Order of the First Order.’

Some believe that it is the First Order that this modern incarnation derives inspiration from. Snoke, they claim, had no true philosophy or belief. He was driven, like many men before him, by the desire to acquire power and establish his empire. They would say that the First Order was an expression of Snoke’s power.

Such a surface-level analysis. It truly makes me despair at how closed-minded so many of our brethren remain. To hold such a thought brings with it the implication that there is a discernible difference between the First Order and Supreme Leader Snoke. That one was not thoroughly dominated in all aspects by the other.

Snoke was the First Order, and the First Order was Snoke.

Ah, hold that thought, reader. Pause for a moment. Put the thought of Snoke out of your mind for this brief moment.

Instead, focus on the First Order. Think of what you know of it. Draw from your textbooks, your histories, your sources. Take your time, there is no rush here. Come back when you know what the First Order was.

Are you back now? Good.

Everything you know of the First Order is a lie.

“No,” you will claim, “That cannot be the case. There were so many sources I looked through, from the Alliance and Empire alike.” I operate under the assumption, reader, that you are wise enough to not rely on a single source. And I’m certain you did look. Perhaps you even perused a few less reliable sources for good measure.

It doesn’t matter, all of them are wrong.

It irritates me to no end that parallels are drawn between the Galactic Empire and the First Order. Between Emperor Palpatine and Supreme Leader Snoke. As if there is some equivalence, as if there is similarity, as if there was anything in this perpetual lie that these two entities are the same.

They are not.

Do you think the Empire and First Order are the same? Tell me how the culture of the First Order resembled anything within the Galactic Empire. Stand before me and declare that the reclusive Palpatine was in any way the same kind of sovereign as the ever-present Supreme Leader. Declare earnestly that the Imperial Commandos of the Empire fought with the same vigor, passion, and fanaticism as the Scarlet Legions of the First Order.

Are you so blinded by outward appearances that you do not look deeper?

I forget myself.

It is not your fault.

See, there is a reason you think this. The First Order terrified the Fellan Imperium and Galactic Alliance. So much so that they made a concerted effort to rewrite history. The First Order was turned into a banal, familiar evil. Snoke was just another power-hungry tyrant. A familiar story, hitting all the necessary tropes in an ongoing conflict between good and evil.

Were that reality was so simple.

I make no secret of my own opinions. What Snoke achieved was far greater than anything Palpatine accomplished, but you would never know this with the biased histories you read. I will never dismiss the sheer brilliance and power of Palpatine – for he did achieve a galactic empire, while Snoke did not.

Yet had Snoke succeeded, his empire would have truly stood for ten thousand years.

Why, you may ask? What did the First Order have that the Galactic Empire did not? How was it different?

Patience, reader, we will come to that part in due time.

First, let us learn some more about the Order proper.

ON THE PARITY OF THE FORCE-BLIND

It is important to begin this discussion by explaining the peculiar nature of the Order of Snoke vis-à-vis their structure: the Order is bifurcated. Unlike the other Orders, Snoke is composed of two equal parts, one that feels the Force and another that doesn’t. Of course, this is not an inherently unique aspect, as each Order has those who are Force-blind – the peasants of Dromund Kaas and the Hands of the Order of Jadus come to mind – but rarely are the Force-blind given similar stature, respect, size, and opportunity in other Orders.

But why is this so unique?

Let us reveal another unique aspect of the Order of Snoke. Think, reader, on the intentions of each Order. Think on what their goals are; what they are trying to build. What drives these Orders? What is their final intention? To rule? Of course, but that is so simple as to be useless.

Some seek to implement the philosophies of their progenitors. Some seek to conquer. Some seek to explore, experiment, and learn. Some see rule as a means to an end, and others as an end in and of itself. All seek to fulfill a vision.

So, let us ask the question: what is the vision of the Order of Snoke?

In some ways, the Order of Snoke has a vision more grand and ambitious than any other. The Order of Snoke seeks not simply to conquer, to rule, or to merely destroy and emerge the victor atop a pile of bodies and ruins. No, they seek to create a new society. A New Empire, a new way of life, one fundamentally alien to those who sleepwalk through this galaxy.

And reader, you of course know that the vast majority of those in this galaxy are blind to the Force. Many Sith would scoff at the idea that such individuals are worth investing in or including, but Snoke knew better, and his Order does as well. One cannot rule for eternity by being insular.

This is why the Force-blind are given such parity within the Order. It is why their Order spans worlds. It has citizens. The Order of Snoke is not an insulated Sith Order, but the future of civilization itself.

One must ask why others do not have similar visions. Something that should be pondered, reader. I cannot say if this approach is correct or wise, but I can see the vision proposed, and it is a glorious one indeed – and one that will appeal to a galaxy that cries out for instruction.

Thus we shall speak of each half in equal measure – first, those groups that compose the ‘Sith’ portion, then the secular or ‘Imperial’ portion.

ON THE SCARLET LEGIONS

Do you know a common phrase that was associated with the First Order by those who fought them?

‘Fire and Ice.’

Read the reports of the Imperium agents. Read the journals of the Alliance soldiers. Read the musings of the Jedi, and hear the unsettled voices of the Imperial Knights who fought in the war.

Fire and Ice.

You will see these words repeated over and over – or at least implied as such. They will describe feeling an unnatural heat in their heads and hearts, they will feel chills in deserts and humid rainforests. We know these effects are of the Force, yet traditional users of the power were rare in the First Order.

Force-sensitives were not.

It is no coincidence that when the foes of the First Order felt the fire and ice described, they were about to face the Scarlet Legions.

Instantly identified by their crimson Stormtrooper armor, each one of these soldiers is Force-sensitive. Each one trained to the best of their abilities. Weak alone – they cannot hold a glowrod to those who truly wield the Force – yet together they are a foe that no mortal army can stand against.

Do you think the kaminoans were the first to conceive of a Force-wielding army? No, reader, they were instead inspired by the performance of the Scarlet Legions during the Third Imperial Civil War. They are not Sith. They are not Dark Jedi. They have no special philosophy, nor deep code.

They are merely soldiers who feel the Force.

Imagine the soldiers of the Fellan Imperium or Galactic Alliance. Imagine their best operatives, their special forces. Now imagine if each of them, in addition to their exquisite training and decades of experience, were Force-users. Imagine how that changes things. Each soldier an unerring marksman. Each soldier with inextinguishable stamina. Each soldier able to anticipate danger at all times. They are not mere men and women.

They are something more.

They are those who are taught to hone their power to be used as a weapon. And this focus allows them to crystalize their innate skills in death. A single lethal shot. A perfect grenade throw. A burst of strength. A jump of ten meters. The Force militarized in such a simple, brutal, and glorious way that the kaminoans could not bring themselves to replicate.

For the Scarlet Legions were not simply called such because of their armor, but in how they waged war. These were not emotionless automatons, but as fanatical as their Stormtrooper peers. When they screamed their war cries, their power amplified the fires in their hearts. Flagging morale was boosted, and their sheer hatred for the enemy was emboldened.

They did more than kill – they slaughtered.

Where the Scarlet Legions went, carnage followed. Corpses would be found mutilated in ways only a Force-user could. Internal organs crushed. Heads exploded. Heart attacks from the overwhelming emotion pouring off of the Legions. Self-inflicted wounds. Never once did the Scarlet Legions surrender, and not once did they ever accept surrender.

Fire and Ice.

The Scarlet Legions have since been reconstituted into the Order of Snoke. They are where those who are Force-sensitive – but are not powerful enough to become a Herald – go. There is only a single Legion in operation today, but perhaps that is all that is needed.

They are the bloodied tip of the spear should war return to the Imperium. In the Third Imperial Civil War it was the Scarlet Legions who fought to the last to deny their enemies a foothold when Snoke’s kingdom was penetrated. For each Scarlet Legionnaire slain, a hundred of the enemy were felled.

I will leave you a final anecdote about the tenacity and viciousness of the Scarlet Legions.

In their final known battle, there were reports of wounded Legionnaires fighting on from behind their makeshift barricades – corpses stacked like cordwood. None surrendered, unless you count those who pretended to… only to blow themselves and their adversaries to cinders with thermal detonators when they approached.

The numbers of the Scarlet Legions may be diminished, but make no mistake, the galaxy remains yet unprepared for their return. Mercy be unto those who would bring conflict upon the Order of Snoke, for the Legion offers none.

ON THE PRAETORIAN GUARD

Let us speak of those surrounding the Supreme Leader. The crimson-masked guards who accompany them at all times and in all locations. The Praetorian Guard.

In the past, when Snoke himself lived, the Praetorian Guard was little more than a vicarious extension of the Supreme Leader’s will. Men and women puppeted like droids and wielded as one wields a blaster. Through Snoke’s immense telepathic ability, their every action was controlled and enhanced – it is said that they were no longer individuals but a hivemind that danced to the Supreme Leader’s tune.

Did you know that Snoke never wielded a lightsaber?

Did you know that he was of frail stature? That he was physically weak? That even walking caused him pain?

Did you know that Snoke never once raised a hand to protect himself?

How, you may ask, how could this be the case?

Let this be a lesson in perceptions, reader – never let yourself be deceived by those who wield enormous power, but are physically frail. No, no, there was no grand battle between the Supreme Leader and the Jedi. No lightsabers clashing, no revelation of true strength by Snoke when the Jedi wolves howled at his gate.

All he had was his mind.

And that was all he needed.

His Praetorian Guard were his instruments. More flexible and numerous than a single lightsaber ever could be. Ponder the immense skill it takes to dominate one mind – now understand that in Snoke’s last stand, sixteen of the Praetorian Guard, along with the remainder of the Knights of Ren, stood with him.

Most believe that another with Snoke’s raw telepathic talent will never emerge, yet all the same, the Praetorian Guard has endured, and its new incarnation has adapted to this reality, while paying homage to what they were before.

The modern incarnation is vastly different, in that it relies on the skills and experience of the individual, rather than a psychic overmind. Those of the Praetorian Guard represent the best of the best, drawn from every corner of the Order and tasked with a single objective: the protection of the Supreme Leader.

Each guard is dressed in identical red armor and robes, each wearing a featureless helmet. Perfectly identical and anonymous. In truth, the only way to differentiate them for the uninitiated is to look at their weapons. Each wields a lightsaber-resistant mêlée weapon, but they vary wildly. From vibro-voulge and electro-bisento, to vibro-arbir blades and even a Bilari electro-chain whip. And each is a master of their chosen weapon with decades of experience.

This is the one organization within the Force-wielding apparatus of the Order of Snoke that draws from both the Force-sensitive and the Force-blind. Yet the fact that the Praetorian Guard are drawn primarily from the Scarlet Legions, the Heralds, and yes, rarely, the Knights of Ren, is sufficient for their inclusion. With a standing force of only several dozen, they are composed of only the best.

Pity any who approach the Supreme Leader without their blessing.

ON THE HERALDS OF SALVATION

Take a break, reader. Go learn some history. I could not begin to give a comprehensive overview of the entirety of the First Order, or the war they took part in. See for yourself – learn, watch, listen. I am a simple historian, I cannot convey the glory of their fleets, the shining white legions of Stormtroopers led by a black-robed man bearing a cross of blazing red.

I cannot replicate the fires raised in the hearts of millions as they listened to the words of Hux.

I cannot convey the horror felt by Alliance soldiers as they faced an army perfectly coordinated and commanded.

I cannot convey the power as the minds of star destroyer crews snapped as they faced the Supremacy, and with a single command from Snoke, turned on their brethren.

No, no, do not rely on me; do not rely on a single source when it comes to history. Learn from many, for I alone cannot provide the full truth, and I will only recount what I see as relevant. But you may find something worthwhile that I do not – go, reader. Do not worry, these words will still be here when you return.

Have you finished?

Good. Let us continue.

Let me first ask a question – when you looked through the pictures, the holovids, and the reports, what did you see? Stormtroopers, politicians, officers, admirals, fleets – yet I suspect that very rarely did you see those who bore lightsabers in the First Order. They existed, of course, but they were rare. They were never like the Jedi.

They were something greater. Something pure.

They were the ‘Heralds of Salvation.’ Snoke’s personal acolytes. Their true number was never learned, but they were believed to be less than one hundred, each the equal of any Jedi Master. Warriors, scholars, writers, artists, poets, and commanders without equal. They were whole in a way which the Jedi could only strive to be.

They were the ones who would usher the galaxy into the coming age. They were the embodiment of Snoke – to be where he could not. Each one personally trained. Each one a master. Men and women, humans and non-humans, young and old, the Heralds were a spectrum of diversity, which Snoke needed for the First Order.

And each of them true believers.

No, the Knights of Ren were not among this group. Have patience, reader, we will come to them in due time. Let us first speak of the Heralds – those the ignorant might call ‘Sith.’

However, there may be a question you have – it was said that the First Order incorporated the remnants of the One Sith into their ranks. Is this where such refugees ended up, with so few in number?

This is unknown. There were few of the One Sith who remained, it is possible that each one ended up within the Heralds. Most believe this to be the case, yet I am skeptical that each one was worth enough to take the mantle. I cannot imagine Snoke would simply allow such individuals into one of the most important positions in his empire.

Yet I merely have an instinct, and the Order of Snoke does not see fit to clarify this.

Let the past be past.

The Order of Snoke lacks what most would consider a vibrant Sith structure within its ranks. Look at any other Order and what do you see? You see Force-users wielding lightsabers – not everyone of course, but many. Within Snoke, there are less than thirty at present who fit that criterion.

“So few!” I hear you cry. After all, how can an Order of the Sith Collective have so few members who can even qualify by the most basic of our standards?

Please, have your eyes glazed over without reading what I have written? Those who wielded the Force in such a manner were never numerous in the First Order, and it is foolish to expect that the Order of Snoke would disrespect their forebears so openly. As the First Order focused on the quality of their Heralds, so, too, does the Order of Snoke.

The Heralds of the Order of Snoke are few, but you would be forgiven for mistaking them for Masters in our Collective. Composed of species of all kinds, each Herald is more than capable of standing against the fiercest warrior of the Militant Order, the most powerful of the Jedi Sages, and the most devious of the Shadows.

One cannot speak of the Heralds without noting one of their most unique features – their lightsabers. They are unique in that they exclusively use the crossguard lightsaber hilt. It is rumored that this stems from the original leader of the Knights of Ren who had attempted to build a lightsaber using a cracked focusing crystal.

A cracked crystal will create a destabilized field, and the hilt will explode if not designed to vent the unstable energies. Thus, a crossguard style was chosen, the guard blades venting the excess plasma. You can see this for yourself by reviewing HoloNet footage of Jedi Battlemaster Shartan, for he still wields the unstable blade his ancestor took after killing the leader of the Knights of Ren. Have you ever seen such a violently chaotic blade? Few would be brave enough to wield such a weapon, but bravery is never in short supply amongst our kind.

These days, it is a symbol rather than a necessity, for each lightsaber used today carries a solid crystal bereft of imperfections. They are seen most visibly by the Heralds who serve on the Supreme Council or as religious leaders. They guide the people as a united voice in things both mundane and esoteric, and like their progenitors, they are the extension of the Supreme Leader.

It is a deep responsibility they bear, but they are not alone in that duty.

ON THE KNIGHTS OF REN

One cannot speak of the First Order without discussing the infamous Knights of Ren.

Yet what are they?

It was an enduring question that many even within the Jedi and Imperium did not know at first. Were they Snoke’s equivalent of a Jedi Council? Simply a powerful Force-using team? The greatest generals of the First Order? Many theories abound, but it was soon realized what they truly were: the personal agents and assassins of the Supreme Leader.

The Knights are trained to complete any mission they are given, and are the first and last weapon against any threat to the First Order. And though they may be sent on so-called ‘mundane’ missions – though how one describes decimating entire criminal polities as ‘mundane’ is beyond me – they are most well-known for neutralizing other Force-users, most notably Jedi.

While anyone can be trained to dispatch a Force-user, the Knights focus almost exclusively on this task and you’d be hard-pressed to find greater assassins outside of the Baran Si or the Order of Darth Nihilus.

Their ability to dispatch fully trained Jedi is even more impressive considering the mundane means they use. Many associate the Knights with the distinctive crossguard lightsaber, but few amongst them actually wielded it, choosing instead to wield beskar-tipped mêlée weapons or high-powered slugthrowers that shoot specialized ammunition, including vong-tech anti-Force spore munitions. This leaves them vulnerable to conventional weaponry, but they make sure to compensate with personal shields and armored undersuits – to say nothing of their field training.

The history of the Knights of Ren is fairly opaque, though we know it began with a loyal acolyte of Supreme Leader Snoke, a kerestian named Beolo Ren. Beolo was a fearsome assassin long before he came to Snoke’s attention, spending his time training followers and fulfilling contracts in the Outer Rim. Once he and his followers joined the First Order, and were subsequently indoctrinated, they specialized in targeting Force-users. Some of Beolo’s original Knights were non-Force-sensitive, but this practice was gradually phased out as the scope of their responsibilities expanded and now all Knights of Ren are Force-users in some capacity.

The Knights never number more than a dozen, and they are never without a leader promoted from within their ranks. The Commander of the Knights of Ren is ceremonially adopted as the ‘heir of the Ren’ and bestowed the surname of ‘Ren’ – most will also change their given names at this time. Supreme Leader Nathis Ren once led the Knights of Ren, hence his surname.

I can sense your excitement as you read. Your curiosity. You’re interested in joining this illustrious group, yes?

It won’t be easy. Nothing worth achieving ever is. But there are no application forms or training centers. There is no way to ask to become a Knight of Ren. The Knights are chosen from the best of the best, those with decades of experience above and beyond the call of duty. Some are drawn from the Scarlet Legions or the Heralds, while others come from the Asha-Krataa. The only real prerequisite is that the initiate be Force-sensitive.

And know that the Order is always watching for new initiates.

Dossiers are kept and constantly updated and reviewed for possible additions to the Knights. The leadership of the Asha-Krataa, Praetorian Guard, Scarlet Legions, and the Knights of Ren themselves offer input on which candidates are worthy to join, but ultimately, it is the Supreme Leader’s decision alone. Owing to the meritocratic nature of the First Order, the Supreme Leader cannot appoint new Knights who have not already been approved by those who review the dossiers.

When a candidate is chosen, they are given trials – usually in the form of dangerous and complex missions, often with a Knight of Ren acting as an invisible overseer. Should they survive their trials and impress their overseer, they will be welcomed into the Knights of Ren at a knighting ceremony officiated by the Supreme Leader themselves.

The newly minted Knight of Ren is then sent to Exegol for six months to two years of intense training – including specialized mêlée weapon training, though some forgo this in favor of long-range weaponry. During this period, they will still be called upon to partake in missions at the behest of the Supreme Leader, but they will be treated as additional trials rather than operations.

The Knights of Ren are the single most elite force in the Order of Snoke, bar none. Never forget that a handful of them nearly wiped out the entire Jedi High Council in a single operation – and they could do so again without hesitation.

ON THE TOTALITY OF SOCIETY

Think for a moment on society; on order. Ponder it, consider the various moving pieces. Consider the myriad of structures, classes, and stratification that takes place in every aspect of society.

Much of society is intrinsically designed to divide.

It is to separate.

I will speak nothing of the merits of such a construction; one can and will find many arguments in favor of such. I merely point out a fact, one which you can see throughout the galaxy. There are those who society will elevate and respect intrinsically – those who remain separate or above the masses.

I say this to highlight that there is little such division within the Order of Snoke.

Three systems and five habitable worlds in Wild Space near the Trade Union sector fall under the rule of the Order of Snoke. Billions call these worlds home, living in peace and security under the ever-watchful eye of the Supreme Leader, and carefully maintained by the Asha-Krataa.

It was the late-Supreme Leader’s vision to see the Imperium reformed into a stable entity that would fear no rebellion or insurrection. A society united behind the ideals of strength, loyalty, and community. The galaxy wasn’t ready for this radical reimagining of its cultural morals. The galaxy feared what the First Order offered, and performed unspeakable acts to purge it from the galaxy.

You perhaps scoff at this. For how could the Alliance and Imperium be threatened to such a degree? After all, the histories rarely speak of what happened after the death of the Supreme Leader.

There is a reason for this.

The citizens of the First Order would not let their dreams – their perfect society – be torn away, for they had found where they belonged. They rejected the lies of the Alliance and Empire. They would not assimilate; they would not return to the empty void their lives had been before.

And how did the Imperium and Alliance treat these people? Did they let them live in peace? Did they eject them from their territory? Did they seek to understand why the First Order appealed to these people?

Of course not.

Because, reader, one cannot allow dangerous ideas to spread. An intellectual contagion is to be suppressed at all costs.

The former citizens of the First Order were arrested, silenced, tortured, and killed. The Imperium committed genocide to end the ideas espoused by its citizens. They did it with no fanfare, and merely sold it to the people as ‘crushing remaining remnants.’ Millions disappeared or were sold out to Outer Rim groups.

The Alliance was no better. They thought themselves more humane as they locked up any who advocated for the beliefs of the First Order. No dissenting thought was allowed, for otherwise the people might wonder if there was an alternative.

There was a concerted effort to rid the galaxy of these ideals. It is why you are forgiven for thinking that the First Order was merely a reimagining of the Empire. An empire that now exists only on those few worlds.

You would be wrong.

It starts with what society is defined by.

The society of the First Order, and now carried on by the Order of Snoke, is one that is total in its purpose. There are no artificial lines of division, there are no ‘civilians’ or ‘military’ – that divide is purged. There are only shared values, struggles, beliefs, and goals. The state refined to a most beautiful end.

A society where each citizen is a public servant. A society where the most important virtue is not what society can do for you, but what you can do for your neighbor and government. A society that strives together, which is united on a primal, fundamental level that can only be achieved when the entirety of the citizenry is mobilized.

There is a deep understanding each citizen has within the Order. They have all experienced the same things, they have undergone the same trials, and that breeds empathy for one another. A citizen under the Order can take comfort in knowing that wherever they go, or whatever happens, they will have the support of a billion others.

That is a powerful thing. Something that the Empire, with all its power, could not understand.

Imagine the Rebel Alliance gaining a foothold in such a society? It would be impossible.

What is life like, you wonder, in such a society?

It is freedom… pure and simple. Freedom from want and from fear. Freedom from worry and despair. Every man and woman, youth and gray beard, each is free to live a true and fulfilling life. One that is filled with meaning.

In so much of the galaxy, we live in a society that is devoid of meaning.

Perhaps you hail from the Galactic Alliance where words like ‘freedom’ and ‘individual rights’ are bandied about like flotsam in an ocean swell. But do you see freedom when you look at your society? Do you see it beyond the suffocating corruption of money and influence? Do you see it amongst the impoverished or those kept in bondage?

And in the Imperium, where all are promised a means to ‘ascendance’ in a meritocracy where the worthy can rise. But you know the truth. The Officer Corps of the Imperium is no less corrupt than the Galactic Senate. A society where nepotism reigns supreme, where the old Imperial families still influence policy. You are only a servant.

No. You are not free. You are enslaved. To the rich owners. To the politicians and their self-serving laws. To cruel superiors. To the credit. To vapid entertainment, holovids, pornography, and drugs.

You live in a society where you mean nothing.

You live in a society where you will work, suffer, and die for a master you will never meet.

You live in a society where you dull this pain through empty pleasures.

But you know better.

You cannot ignore the void in your heart.

You cannot ignore that you will live a life of no consequence.

You cannot ignore that you are nothing.

So your soul screams for fulfillment.

Perhaps listen to it.

Snoke did. He saw the utter cruelty and depravity of galactic society. One which sought to strangle the average individual to the shackles of bureaucracy, repetition, and capital. One where beliefs were fluid, and shared values were alien. One that lacked a true core, one which lacked true purpose. Meaning.

That was what he offered the people.

Meaning.

He offered these people an opportunity to contribute to something greater than themselves. That there was more to life than pointless work. That the void they felt in their soul could be assuaged, it could be filled.

He extended a hand, and told them that he understood, and they were not alone.

Here is a controversial truth, reader, one that you may initially denounce and condemn.

People don’t want freedom. They tell themselves they do. But they don’t.

They just want their lives to mean something. They want to die, knowing they have purpose. That they are not just a number that will be forgotten or discarded. They want fulfillment of a kind that credits alone cannot provide. Money is corruptive for the mind and soul, and cannot fulfill the emotional and spiritual needs of the people.

Credits were banned in the First Order for this reason.

Radical, as I mentioned.

But if you walked among them, or even walk among their worlds now, you would hardly notice. They are happy, they are fulfilled.

Look closely, do you see fetters upon the people? Each person is sovereign, able to rise and fall within as true a meritocracy as I have ever seen. Listen to them, do you see people clamoring for freedom and liberty? Why should they, when they see how easily they can be discarded? How they are ultimately meaningless.

True freedom comes through surrender. Through understanding.

Understanding that you simply do not have the answers. That left alone, people will destroy themselves. That they will be taken advantage of and exploited. Understanding that they alone cannot responsibly be free.

And understand that this is okay.

And that understanding is liberating.

For no more do you have to worry in life. You do not have to worry about making enough money to support your family, for the Order provides. You do not need to become stressed over work or position, for you will be placed into a position you will love. You do not need to fear speaking the wrong thing, for the wrong thing will never materialize in your mind at all.

And you can relax, surrounded by friends and family, by a society that is truly united in a way that most would say is impossible. One where each arises through their own merit, and each according to their need. A society that is not corrupted by the whims of totalitarians, but surrounded and led by those who believe in the vision. Who believe in this society.

This is what the total societal absorption of the Order of Snoke provides.

Utopia.

ON COMMUNITY

What binds the Order of Snoke together, and the First Order that came before it?

Is it the structures and organizations which comprise it? The high commands, the fleets, the civil management divisions? I could speak about such in detail, documenting each purpose they serve and what they provide to the Order and their citizens. But you are not reading this to learn a glorified organizational chart, and mere structure alone cannot be what binds a society together.

Is it ideology? Religion? Belief in such is important, the effects I will not downplay. Yet ideology on its own is fickle, and isolated it can be broken down, discredited, and dies the first death in the history books and the final death as the last person forgets it. Ideology and faith alone cannot sustain a society. It is at best a connective tissue, a light adhesive that reinforces that which already sticks.

Think carefully, reader.

Are you done?

I will give you the answer: community.

You might be surprised; I doubt you expected to see ‘community’ as the factor that binds the Order of Snoke together when you first gazed upon this chapter. Be honest with yourself. It is understandable, it is not the first word I would have associated either – it is still true, nonetheless.

Think logically, reader. Think on how ideology, belief, and conviction often seem to fall flat in the face of a personal relationship. Friends can change minds better than any propaganda, and families have more intrinsic trust than any government can hope to have. Governments, movements, and organizations will pass and change, but your friends and family will always be right beside you.

But be honest – how many people have any support structures beyond this? How many have more than a few close friends? Family that live star systems away? How many people are lonely and isolated, lacking a connection to each other?

How well do you know your colleagues?

How well do you know your neighbors?

Do you know them at all?

No, no, perhaps a more poignant question is needed.

Would you die for your neighbor? Would they die for you?

Probably not, for neither they nor you have reason to. Or that is what you are taught to believe.

And this is the division that is exploited. So many in this galaxy lead isolated, empty lives. Community is found through faceless avatars and HoloNet chatrooms. Community is found in shared excitement of newly released entertainment. Community is a single year-end party that you attend just for the food.

This is not community. This is a twisted abomination, one which exists solely to destroy the soul and condemn the person to a meaningless life. One that will struggle to find affection, fulfillment, and love.

Allow me to paint a different picture.

Imagine, reader, if you will, a society where people live in small, cultured neighborhoods. Neighborhoods where the residents know each other by name, where they spend time together after their days of work and service. Where they regularly engage in conversation about topics both mundane and serious.

These communities celebrate each other’s achievements, support each other in their failures, and consistently encourage and push each other to be better. Where their lives are lived in harmony, where they work, play, worship, celebrate, and live together. Fulfilled by each other’s presence, united in vision and values.

This is what awaits those under the Order of Snoke.

I wonder, reader, if you have ever felt truly supported in your life. If you have experienced a failure, or trauma, and there was someone there for you. Who listened, who comforted, who looked upon your moment of weakness and offered empathy. If you have, you are luckier than many. For those in the Order, this is simply an expectation.

These communities center their lives not around work, money, superfluous entertainment, or hobby, but each other. Their lives are provided for, so they spend their time with what truly matters: each other. Loyalty to the state is all well and good, but Snoke understood that what matters is if there is a community which is bound by the values and beliefs of the state.

It is a harmonious loop that reinforces itself. The citizens will never betray the state, because they would be betraying their neighbor. They would be betraying the society they are so connected to. And these people, dear reader, are deeply connected to each other. Dozens turn out for birthdays and births. Weddings and funerals are an entire neighborhood affair where hundreds are invited. To see dozens of children playing in the parks while the parents chat politics off to the side is a common sight.

And this sense of community extends beyond their home. These citizens are welcomed wherever they go in the Order. Strangers are treated like family, and a traveler will never have to worry about having a place to stay as there will be no fewer than a dozen offers. You are, after all, a fellow citizen. You are part of society, and thus, you are family.

Do not think that the benevolent leaders and officials are any less bound to this community. Perhaps they may be treated with more respect or deference, but it is not out of fear or tradition, but because they are part of the community. Snoke regularly visited the worlds he ruled, and laid his hands on many. The Supreme Leaders that have followed work to maintain a similar connection to the communities they rule over.

None of them live in opulent houses and palaces. They live in simple dwellings no better than their people, with their partner if such is applicable, from which they then go to their daily work like everyone else.

And this community?

This is what the Alliance and Imperium truly feared.

Because they knew such a community could never be broken.

ON THE STORMTROOPERS

You will forgive me, reader, if my focus on this section is not necessarily on the Stormtroopers themselves. If you want an analysis of their gear, their weapons, or tactics, I fear you will have to go elsewhere. Such topics have little interest to me, as technology and equipment is fleeting and unimportant against what matters.

Yet here I am, focusing on them all the same. But I wish to use them to draw attention to a larger theme, one which flows throughout all of those who fought for Supreme Leader Snoke. The Stormtroopers were the standard warriors of the First Order. The numerous legions that fought, bled, and died. Mere infantry that were sent to win or die for their superiors.

To the galaxy, the Stormtroopers were just another army. A legacy of the Galactic Empire, one which was strikingly similar in most respects.

Let us pull back for a moment.

Appraise what an army is.

An army is a reflection of society. It is reflective of their intentions, their focus, their values, their morals, their discipline, and their power. If you wish to see the true face of society, look within their military and you will find the truth.

For galactic rule is not decided through peace and diplomacy, but through the threat of war.

Those who hold the guns decide the future.

For the Imperium, the army reflects the dedication to the state and the imperial system. For the Alliance, the army reflects the power and interests of the wealthy and the warmonger, who seek to build and manifest conflict for personal or ideological reasons as the rest of the citizenry is deprived of standing and wealth.

The war machine consumes all.

Perhaps it strikes as a more negative effect in the Alliance because they lie to their people. They tell them that they are a moral, grand, and just force in the galaxy. War is a last resort, something which they seek to avoid. Yet despite their words, their priorities show otherwise. The Alliance is not a militarized society, it is not ingrained into them. For the Imperium, this is not the case, and military service is expected and glorified.

But I digress.

The Stormtroopers.

What determines victory and defeat? If you were to pit two armies against each other, which one would emerge victorious? Let us discount numbers for now – assume both sides are equivalent in size. Would it come down to technology? Skill? Something else?

Break it down further.

Men are not created equal, and technology alone is not sufficient for victory. Skill will triumph over equipment most of the time. If you were to pit a technologically superior soldier against a more skilled one, the skilled one will likely win. If you pit two skilled soldiers against each other, the one with the better technology will win. Factors compound atop each other, in a complex dejarik game.

But what happens when you place two soldiers against each other who are equivalent in every way? How then can you determine the winner?

Spirit.

This factor I find is oddly overlooked by many. Morale is one of the most important factors in war, yet too many see soldiers as droids rather than feeling and thinking creatures. If a soldier does not believe in the mission, then they will not fight as hard to see it through. If they do not believe in what they are purportedly defending or fighting for, then they will lack the will to truly succeed.

Soldiers in the Imperium and Alliance often see their work as a job. Something they do to provide for a family and get paid. It is a means to an end, perhaps they believe in some of it, but ultimately, it is a passive belief. Would they truly die for it? No one can say until they are in that position.

Now, take everything I have said on the culture and society of the Order of Snoke, and apply it to the Stormtroopers.

I imagine you can see where I am going with this.

I am uncertain if there has ever been an army that has been as loyal, steadfast, and passionate as the Stormtroopers of the Order of Snoke. With no true military/civilian divide, the Stormtroopers were as much a part of the community as any other profession. You may be surprised to learn there are no barracks on the worlds of the Order of Snoke.

Like everyone else, the Stormtroopers live in their community. They are not segregated to live away from the people they intend to protect for the sake of greater centralization. Sure, there are central commands, hangars, and your typical military installations – but the only place where you will find barracks is on the frontlines of war, where such become a necessity.

They are among the most driven of the citizens of the Order, the ones who will die before they let anything hurt those they care about. And the death of a Stormtrooper is not a mere statistic, but one which the entire community mourns. The Imperium and Alliance wondered how the First Order seemed to have an endless supply of Stormtroopers, as they knew it wasn’t cloning.

No, it was not cloning. It was something more primal. It was a community that was lashing out. For every Stormtrooper that died, two more citizens enlisted with the intent to make sure this pain would not be perpetuated.

You can see how this spiraled, how the ranks of the Stormtroopers only swelled as the war progressed.

You can see why the Alliance and Imperium cracked down so harshly, because these communities innately rejected them. When they invaded their worlds, they found not just Stormtroopers, but communities from the young to the old that took up weapons to push out the invaders.

When there is no divide between the soldier and civilian, one can become the other easily.

Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention the downsides of such a strong devotion to society and community, else you might believe this is an army far beyond any other. The First Order lost, despite the valiant efforts of the Stormtroopers, but the truth is that the First Order should not have been able to challenge two galactic powers as they did.

Perhaps they were doomed to fail from the start. Perhaps not.

But their community was something that was used against them. There was no Stormtrooper who turned traitor, or defected, but there were those who cracked. It was in understanding the fundamental weakness that the Imperium and Alliance began to turn the tide. When your brothers and sisters in arms are like family, then pain becomes an effective weapon.

Stormtroopers were taken alive in larger numbers, one or multiple were taken away to be threatened – where if they did not comply, it would be not them who suffered, but their friends or family. This proved highly effective on the Stormtroopers, and this was one reason so many became suicidal when cornered. They were not afraid to die, but they would rather die than be put in a position to choose between community and information.

Collective punishment was heavily employed by the Alliance and Imperium on the communities as well to keep them in check. Decimation tactics were utilized for rebellion or disobedience. Word of this soon spread, which was why almost all of the First Order fought to the death rather than surrender, for they knew only oppression awaited them.

Yet despite the drawbacks of such a connection, one cannot deny the vigor and devotion it gives to such an army. There is of course an argument to be had over the merits of such an army and whether or not they are superior, but I have said enough on this. You have enough to draw your own conclusions.

I would be most curious to know what those are.

ON THE REINFORCEMENT OF TRUTH

Life can be described as a journey to answer a question.

That question will change and shift as you progress through your life. It may be pragmatic or existential. It may be small or big. Having questions throughout life is a normal experience, and critical to finding one’s place in the galaxy.

So many people will wander through life, listless and uncertain, not even knowing what questions to ask, let alone what the answers are. So they settle for something that at least tries to answer that question, they try to find what makes them happy, content, and fulfilled. It doesn’t work, no matter how much they tell themselves it does, yet it is the best they think they can get.

So they endure it, and are exploited by those who promise the answers; those who promise lies.

The Order of Snoke prides itself on providing a solution to this issue. Unlike other governments, who would not indulge in answering such mundane and personal questions, they have a ministry which is devoted to providing the truth to its citizens. Where there is uncertainty, they provide clarity. Where there are questions, they provide answers. Where there is conflicting information, they identify the truth.

There is no mystery or uncertainty in the Order, proactive teams of researchers, analysts, and other experts are quick to inform the public of the truth. Citizens live their lives without having to worry about being confused by the complexities of the galaxy, because they trust that the authorities have figured out those questions for them.

Most importantly, this ‘Ministry of Guidance’ serves to ensure that the greatest threat to society is smothered.

Doubt.

The Order of Snoke relies on a fundamental acceptance of the society that has been created. It must be accepted that it is right, true, and essential to life. There can be no other alternatives, for such introduces risk and uncertainty to a carefully planned civilization. For most, this is not a worry, as why would they need to wonder, when all has been provided for them?

Others though, others sometimes wonder.

They ask questions.

They think in ways that are abnormal.

And they doubt the surety and truth of the Order.

Now do not mistake this, reader, such is hardly a crime. It is normal and natural to ask questions and challenge norms. For many governments, they see this as something to be destroyed and purged immediately, forgetting – in their foolishness – that such heavy-handed measures only entrench such doubts and transform them into certainties.

Why, others ask, would the response be so harsh if there wasn’t a grain of truth to the doubt? Are those who rule so insecure that they cannot tolerate any dissent or questioning? This is especially problematic if the citizens are expecting the ability to speak their minds – be it an illusion or real, the result is the same.

For the Order, they do the opposite. They invite those with doubts to speak them, that there is nothing to fear from having questions and uncertainties. For doubts, as is taught, are like cancers or diseases that will only grow and fester with time. Honesty is best, and when you sit opposite a smiling individual, you know there is nothing to fear from speaking your mind.

They listen attentively, carefully noting down your points and concerns.

Then they answer your question.

And without fail, it is exactly what you need to hear. The answers they provide are, of course, perfectly reasonable and logical, and you can now see why things are the way they are. You feel relief wash over you, as you now know that nothing was wrong, it has just been a misunderstanding, or a misinterpretation.

Then you stand with a smile, thank them for their help, and you depart, now more firm in your convictions in your belief in the civilization and society of the Order of Snoke than ever before. And when you see another with doubts, you will reassure them that the Order makes no mistakes, and you will guide them to the same people who helped you.

A beautiful resolution, would you not say?

Pay no attention to the robed men who silently observe you across the one-way glass.

Pay no attention to the hand motions of the official sitting opposite you.

Don’t worry about the drink they provide for you, it will help you relax.

Don’t worry if you forget certain details that day. It’s nothing, you can be assured of it.

Ah, it is beautiful, is it not? Such an elegant system.

One which does require certain sacrifices to maintain itself.

But they are sacrifices for the greater good.

For a perfect society.

Utopia.

Would you not agree?

Perhaps ponder that question, reader.

What would you do to achieve utopia?

ON FAITH

To seize the mind is to seize the people.

To seize the spirit is to seize the nation.

The Acolytes of the Beyond yet persist. The faith that spawned Supreme Leader Snoke permeated First Order society, as it now does the Order of Snoke. The religion exalts the past and heralds the future – an understanding that the winds of fate are guided by the dark side of the Force. The people are taught this truth and it cements their conviction in the righteousness of the Order of Snoke and the society they have built.

The Jedi – in their profound ignorance – would call them a ‘Sith cult,’ completely ignoring the lack of any Sith teachings or idolatry. Are they a cult? That label is born of suspicion and disdain more than academic categorization. The Acolytes of the Beyond are a religious order that espouses the virtues of strength in the dark side of the Force. They are an organic sect formed out of whole cloth without input from the Sith or their legends, they are the darkness in its most primal understanding.

Most would categorize the Acolytes of the Beyond as a ‘state religion,’ a concept which is quite amusing when taken into the context of what that means. There are no laws mandating worship, nor promotion of the faith. Yet there are shrines, congregations, and the Acolytes themselves.

Of their own volition, communities build statues and create art. They gather at shrines to participate in the worship. Before each meeting, administrators bow their heads in supplication to the Beyond. Stormtrooper legions perform prayers together, with officers bestowing the blessing of the Beyond upon them.

Calling it a ‘state religion’ implies that there is a division between religion and society. That there is a question on if there is anything else worth believing. That there would be those who don’t believe.

No, this is no state religion.

It is something deeper.

In the Order, there are no nonbelievers. Belief contributes to the maintenance of the state, to do otherwise is to embrace anarchy. If the Asha-Krataa and the Ministry of Guidance guide the mind, the Acolytes guide the soul; maintainers of spirituality and keeping the faithful on the correct path.

So, what do they believe?

Despite its prominence in First Order history and modernity, very few of the faithful actually understand the scripture outside the Acolytes themselves. They hold secret knowledge and disseminate this knowledge to people who would otherwise misinterpret the holy words. Imagine if one blind to the Force attempted to divine its secrets? Some might succeed, as evidenced by Professor Gndaa’s seminal work, “On the Unknown Force,” but how many others would be led astray and completely misconstrue the truth?

Indeed, if not even those who use this power can understand its deepest complexities, what hope do those blind to it have?

So it is with the Corollary of Ochi, written in an ancient and forgotten tongue that only the Acolytes of the Beyond have managed to divine. It tells stories of ancient philosopher kings and queens, immune to disease and time, with intellect unrivaled, strength unchallenged, and vision unquestioned.

Through the Corollary, they believe that all life is slaved to the Force, swept up in the currents of a mighty river that only those strong in the dark side can arrest. It is apropos. It aligns with what the Sith have long-believed. For those of us who command the darkness, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves. But most cannot feel the Force as we do, and are powerless in its wake.

So the faith of the people binds them further to their leaders – and each other. The Order of Snoke is seen as a necessary secular structure to fully embrace the dictates of the Corollary, and thus, it receives the Acolytes’ full support. The leader of the faith sits upon the Supreme Council, their voice equal to all others who guide the Order of Snoke into the future.

But why, you may ask, why would Snoke – or indeed the modern Order – bother with such a religion in the first place? Few see the Force as something religious, and indeed many Jedi and Sith are full adherents to a secular ideology because they view the Force as something akin to a natural law. The spirituality of the Force is something that has been lost in the wider galaxy, and it can boast no religious devotees beyond a few scattered cultures and peoples.

The answer is belief.

Building a society purely on secular foundations is one that introduces a risk for the greater state. If logic dictates action, if people respond purely to what they know and understand, they may find the answers that are given unsatisfactory.

Belief is the solution, for belief creates faith.

For certain, you can have faith in something without a religious context – yet the secular equivalent has the same pitfalls as a secular system, for once the answers are proven to be hollow, faith collapses. Yet by having something greater, something inherently unknowable, can faith maintain belief.

And belief instills devotion.

Devotion instills loyalty.

Too few people understand the power of belief and faith. The power of something intangible, but which can drive a nation and people to do things logical minds would dismiss. Look at the vong, whose religion drove them to put their bodies through utter torment for the appeasement of their gods. It is irrational, foolish, and self-destructive – yet their belief demands it, and so they do so without complaint or question.

The situation in the Order is slightly different, in that there are no gods per se, but the Acolytes and the leaders of the Order themselves take on the mantle. They are not divine, but are empowered by the supernatural and given the mandate.

Do you believe that these rituals and worship are just empty words given in supplication?

No, reader, belief is a very real – and powerful – thing.

It is something the Acolytes learned to harness long ago. To channel the utter belief of the people, their devotion to the faith into something tangible. Energy offered willingly. When their blood is offered, when they leave the worship feeling tired, this is not mere coincidence. Their belief empowers.

Are the blessings that the Acolytes bestow upon them false? Have there not been Stormtrooper legions that have marched for days unending while blessed by an Acolyte to let them push through the storms? Have workers not received a rush of clarity and energy in their flagging spirits when an Acolyte’s words reminded them why they serve the Order?

Of course, you can discern the mechanics behind these feats and miracles. Perhaps I am dispelling this illusion, but you are hardly someone to be solely enamored by faith.

Or are you?

I find such a questionable pursuit, but I cannot claim to know all. Perhaps there is something more to the beliefs of the Acolytes than I believe. But that is a choice, a decision that I cannot make for you, reader.

You must decide what you believe for yourself.

ON THE ASHA-KRATAA

Even amongst Sith worlds there is need for a secular authority. An apparatus that handles the everyday needs of billions. The civilian bureaucracy ensures the society itself is well-maintained. It ensures there is food, water, and electricity. That every need – from infrastructure maintenance to resource extraction – is looked after in an efficient manner. That every citizen understands their place and understands their future.

If you have read this far, you might be forgiven for wondering how such a society was created with the seeming consent of everyone involved. That there is a missing element; that the utopia described is almost too perfect.

Everything works too well.

Everyone is too devoted.

Let us ask a more fundamental question.

How does one mold a society? Each nation has certain characteristics and organs that are universal to each. One of which is internal security and policing. Depending on the government type, such organs can range from lax to overbearing. Many in the decadent Core might see the worlds under Order of Snoke aegis as virtual prisons. From the outside looking in, many would look upon them with shock and horror. They would see a ‘brainwashed and mindless people.’

With what you have read, would you really describe them in this way?

The people of these worlds would surely disagree. Go to any of the colonies and look around and what do you see? You see a microcosm of Supreme Leader Snoke’s vision for the perfect society. Clean air and water. Pristine natural spaces. Ordered structures and an efficient society of people organized to their fullest potential. All things that have been discussed before.

And such people call these citizens insane and enslaved for believing in the system and the Order?

Perhaps you do?

Perhaps, despite all that has been said, the Order that has been created is a nightmare, one where thought, word, and deed is molded and crafted to serve the state? Perhaps you value your freedom, and see its absence here as abhorrent and intolerable?

Stop.

Ask yourself one question.

What gives you the right to impose your view on them?

How little respect you have for the divergent that you assume that these people want anything else. Do you believe they lie? That they do not believe? That they are unhappy? Can you not conceive of a society that diverges from your own ideals?

You are better than that.

Let us return to the colonies. I have described in detail what you will see, what you will expect, what you will receive.

What else do you see, or should I say, what do you not see? Ever-present police. There simply are none. How can this be? How can worlds holding millions of sapients operate without any sort of law enforcement? How does one maintain such unerring loyalty amongst the populace?

Ah, reader, here we come to dispel the illusion.

A necessary step, though I confess that I have enjoyed weaving this tale for you. No, but the truth here is important.

Would it surprise you to know that the Order of Snoke is, in fact, not quite as united as I have implied?

That its bonds of community are weaker than portrayed?

That the faith of the people can waver?

That sometimes people wish something more than a life of devotion to the state?

Even utopia is not free of flaws. It is not free of dissidents.

One might ask the question of why. After all, they are given everything they would need to prosper and thrive – from full state education to guaranteed state employment. Yet there are those who still rebel at the idea of society. Those who seek only anarchy – or so the internal propaganda goes. In truth, they may seek many things. A certain ideal of freedom, of choice. Perhaps adventure. It matters not, for they are a sickness, a cancer. 

For them, the only cure is the ‘Asha-Krataa.’

Those amongst you familiar with Old Sithese will recognize the term as ‘victory over death.’ It is rare to find such overt Sith imagery within the Order of Snoke, which should be the first clue about their origin. The Asha-Krataa were the brainchild of Darth Maladi, their conception based on the tenants of Sith Intelligence and Assassination – the agency she headed under Darth Krayt’s leadership. She established a shadow organization to monitor Order of Snoke societies for disruptive elements.

Most believe that powerful Force-sensitives are sent to the Heralds. That only a few have been deemed powerful enough to become initiated into this order, for why else are there so few of them?

The truth is that the majority of such individuals enter the Asha-Krataa.

Each member is Force-sensitive without exception, and each specializes in telepathy. There is no dissent on these worlds because no seditious ideas can be hidden. What is the price of a perfect society? It is a world of hidden eyes and ears. Crime is negligible, to the point that there are no prisons. Can you imagine? You who read my words likely came from a place where crime was common in one way or another. Can you even imagine your home without crime?

The citizens of the Order of Snoke walk around without fear from their fellow citizens. The Asha-Krataa protect them from the cancers that promulgate elsewhere. Is it any wonder so many on the fringes of the Imperium chose Snoke over Servius Draco? Sedition is a capital offense in the Imperium, and there is no greater sedition than secession. These people saw something beautiful in the regimented ways of the First Order and embraced it.

The brave men and women of the Asha-Krataa patrol the worlds under Order of Snoke control, rooting out subversive elements and maintaining societal purity at every level. They have sacrificed their lives in an attempt to improve the lives of their fellow citizens. They have no histories, they have no futures, they have no names. They exist only for the cause. Only to ensure the smooth leadership of the Supreme Leader.

Who are they? Would you recognize them? Some are conspicuous while others are hidden in plain sight.

You will not find them, for they know when you look.

Even if you did, do you think you would remember them?

They are administrators. They are Stormtroopers. They are mechanics. They are neighbors. They are family. They are everywhere, and yet they are also nowhere.

They will participate, they will sing, they will laugh, they will be as much a part of society as everything else in the Order. Yet they will also be listening, not merely to the words from your lips, but the thoughts from your mind. When necessary, they guide and nudge, they create and erase.

When faith wanes, they remove doubt.

When questions arise, they provide surety.

When grief overwhelms, they provide comfort.

When dissent festers, they purge it.

See, reader, you may view the Asha-Krataa as something to be feared. As agents and assassins. Perhaps that was what Darth Maladi intended, but she was a Sith with her mind stuck in the old ways. The Asha-Krataa have been elevated to something else. They never kill, for why would they do so when all the people need is guidance?

Why would they remove people when all they want is clarity?

Why would they punish when with a thought they can be returned to the proper path?

The Asha-Krataa are the soft blanket which covers the people within the Order. You need not fear the Asha-Krataa, and if you do fear, that will fade from your mind eventually. Do not think of them as an outside force that enforces society in the desired state. No, they are not architects, they, along with the rest of the people, are servants in the grand design.

They are as essential an element to the people as community and faith, for both of those they maintain.

But the people do not know.

And if they wondered, they will be certain to forget soon enough.

Ask a citizen of the Order about the Asha-Krataa and they will be confused because they’ve never heard of them before. Spend enough time there yourself and you may find your own memories fading over time.

Ignorance is bliss in a true utopia.

ON RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SITH ORDERS

There is little to say that has not already been said as it relates to the Order of Snoke and their relations with the Order of Krayt. They remain staunch allies even within the Sith Collective, and there are no signs of fracturing or discontent. For the sake of brevity, I will not repeat myself on this matter. I will instead refer you to the chapter on the Order of Darth Krayt.

Beyond Krayt, Snoke has notably little interaction with the other Orders. Only two are of note: Jadus and Vitiate. The Order of Jadus is allowed to operate within Snoke territory, with the Orders sharing psychological expertise and training between Jadus-trained spies and the Asha-Krataa. This manifests in occasional joint operations to suppress certain problematic elements that arise in either’s territory. As for the Order of Vitiate… that one is less clear. There is a definite respect between the leaders of each Order, but the reasons for this are unknown to outside observers.

As for the other Orders, they are relatively neutral – viewing Snoke as another Order in the Collective. An ally, but a distant one. That said, I would be remiss in ignoring those that are actively at odds with Snoke: Plagueis and Palpatine. At first glance, there would seem to be no reason for them to abhor one another. So why the animosity?

If you have paid attention, reader, you should be able to answer this for yourself.

Plagueis and Palpatine venerate the myth of the Galactic Empire and view Snoke and the First Order as upstarts attempting to build a warped and impure caricature of that glorious myth – which you may recall is the same justification for their animosity toward Krayt. Members of the Order of Snoke are just as willing to sneer at the old myth, pointing out – correctly at times – the gross inefficiency of the old Empire and the vanity of Emperor Palpatine. They view the First Order as a superior incarnation of not only the Galactic Empire of old, but the modern Fellan Imperium as well.

Whether this will move past barbed words in the future is an open debate. At the moment, the Orders are content to ignore each other and focus their energies against the Jedi – as it should be.

ON THE SUPREME COUNCIL

The Supreme Council is composed of the leaders of each branch in the Order’s governing body. At the head of the Council is the Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader is always drawn from the Supreme Council, elected by the others to serve for life as their Head of State and Commander in Chief.

You may have noticed I did not specify that they were ‘drawn from the Force-users of the Council.’ This is key, and something else wholly unique to the Order of Supreme Leader Snoke – the Supreme Leader can be Force-blind. That means that there can be a Force-blind member of the High Council of the Sith Collective. In fact, it has happened twice already, and in living memory. I remember the last, a man named Grier Sego. His presence was titanic and no one – save our Lady – could cow this man. I will repeat what I have said previously: never underestimate the Force-blind of Snoke.

Grier Sego was the predecessor of the current Supreme Leader, Nathis Ren. Nathis was Grier’s chosen successor – while the Council chooses their own Supreme Leader, they have never rejected a chosen successor on the rare occasions one is picked.

I’ve spoken of the Council’s makeup, but let us dive into the minutia of their responsibilities. The Council maintains the labyrinthian bureaucracy that dictates life within the Order of Snoke. They have the penultimate say on all military matters and deal with foreign diplomacy, generally when dealing with the Sith Collective or the Order of Darth Krayt.

Resolutions are passed and then approved or rejected by the Supreme Leader. For the most part, the Council deals with high-level issues, relying on planetary governors and sector moffs to handle political operations. It is the same with the conventional military elements, while the military Councilors are themselves generals, admirals, and the like, they rely on their subordinates to maintain military cohesion and discipline, and they in turn rely on the noncommissioned officers to do the same.

Such a system runs the risk of devolving into a corrupt and bloated instrument, but the ingrained meritocratic structure as well as internal investigative bodies prevents widespread graft. A commendable achievement that most militaries would be envious of, though for the Order of Snoke, with their relatively small armed force, it is a matter of pragmatic survivalism.

Now, given their importance to the Order, it is only right that we go into detail on who each of them are.

Feel free to rest your eyes, reader. Meditate and reflect, for I know this chapter has been long and draining. Do not worry, this part will still be here, and I suspect you will find these men and women most interesting.

ON TALALI PRYDE, ALLEGIANT GENERAL

The great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Allegiant General Enric Pryde, Talali is a shrewd and formidable woman. Brought up by a distinguished military family, she has risen through the ranks of the Order to claim what she and others of the Pryde clan view as their family’s birthright.

Perhaps it is, but nothing in the Order of Snoke is ever handed out – Enric Pryde had dealt with the nepotism of the Imperium, and his hatred of it led to the codification of its criminalization. Everyone must prove themselves; it matters not if they have famous parents or they themselves are the famous one – they must be the best, and continue to be the best.

For a Pryde to be anything but the best would be an intolerable shame – the family has too much pride, if you’ll pardon the pun. Talali was top of her class. She served with distinction as a Stormtrooper before transferring into the officer corps. Her leadership skills have revamped the military structure of the First Order Stormtrooper divisions – a greater emphasis on logistics has taken root since her ascension.

The core of these reforms began with an exhaustive investigation into the Third Imperial Civil War – the first that had taken place. While lessons had been taken by the First Order following their defeat, it was never conducted in the style of a true postmortem. Every battle, decision, leader, and unit was examined, appraised, and judged, all to create a picture of where and how the First Order had failed – and where they could improve.

One might think that several hundred years would mean that the Order would naturally course-correct, but you would be very wrong. The results of the report highlighted that many of the same flaws and inefficiencies remained in the Order of Snoke – something which Talali presented directly to Supreme Leader Sego. She, together with the Commander of the Knights of Ren at the time, Nathis, was charged with addressing these concerns.

It was during this period of years that both Talali and Nathis became enamored of each other and wed shortly before Nathis took control of the Order of Snoke. One can imagine their closeness was forged due to a shared vision for the Order, and their full belief in it. There is chatter amongst the people that they might attempt to create a dynasty that would alter the Order of Snoke irrevocably. Are they? Perhaps, perhaps not. If the meritocracy remains intact, what does it matter? Even a chosen heir can be a great figure second to none.

Since her ascension to Allegiant General, she has taken control of the Red Sun, flagship of the Order of Snoke, and successor to the Supremacy commanded by Snoke himself. She has also begun oversight of a second significant report. The first was learning the lessons of the past, and how to correct them.

This one will be to prepare for the war of the future – and how to win it.

ON RAZA NOED, GRAND MOFF OF THE FIRST ORDER  

Holding the highest civil authority beneath the Supreme Leader himself, Grand Moff Raza Noed is a wily figure and a cunning political operator. It is a special person who can manage the many interests and priorities of the worlds of the Order of Snoke, and she in particular is able to do so without the need for a large staff which is endlessly delegated with minor tasks. There is, admittedly, a reason for this.

She was once a member of the Asha-Krataa before shifting toward a career in the Order’s bureaucracy.

Her career in the Asha-Krataa was exemplary but without distinction – or so the official line goes. Transitions from the Asha-Krataa, for any reason, are rare, and this particular fact is not known to the rank-and-file within the bureaucracy itself – let alone to the common people. Of course it wouldn’t, for they do not know the Asha-Krataa exists.

It is worth asking the question: why would such a woman be placed in such a high position? Why expand the influence of the Asha-Krataa even further if they are fulfilling their jobs to the letter?

I have little incentive to cover for the Order of Snoke or their esteemed leadership. I can only speculate, but there are two potential reasons for this. The first is because of actions she undertook when she transitioned from the Asha-Krataa to her first governorship.

Noed is primarily known for her actions as governor of Lothal, where she fully integrated the Asha-Krataa as an arm of the planetary government. Prior to this, the Asha-Krataa were more independently controlled through intermediaries of the Supreme Leader. Most leaders would not cede power to their subordinates, but the Order of Snoke is committed to its meritocracy, and its leaders are willing to experiment.

Or so the official line goes. An experiment. One that I truly doubt Noed implemented on her own initiative. Perhaps she conceptualized the idea, but she certainly received permission from former-Supreme Leader Sego. I suspect this was Sego’s infamous foresight at work, as he gave her his blessing in the endeavor and watched Noed’s progress closely.

When it was shown to be significantly more effective, he decreed that the Asha-Krataa as a whole would be integrated in similar manners across their territory. Why was this done? I suspect because the Asha-Krataa are integral to the continuance of the Order of Snoke – and Sego was preparing for the coming war, and the more integrated the Asha-Krataa are, the easier it will be to integrate the populations of conquered worlds into the Order.

That is one reason for her promotion. The second is more… ominous.

It perhaps indicates that control over the thoughts and minds of the population is not quite as strong as the Order would prefer. The elevation of one of the Asha-Krataa into a bureaucratic position implies that they are failing to necessarily keep the population on the correct path, and drastic measures are to be taken.

Noed is said to be innovative and iron-willed, but those traits alone are not enough to justify her transfer – let alone her elevation. No, no one ordinary is elevated to Grand Moff. Not unless they are exceptional in some way – and Noed is exceptional in that, no matter what the true reason for her elevation is, she is preparing to transition the Order of Snoke to a truly galactic civilization.

One wonders if her elevation came at the suggestion of Nathis or Talali – both of whom are looking to the inevitable war. Like the Third Imperial Civil War, there will be citizens who resist on conquered worlds, and the Order of Snoke will find themselves having to deal with them. With Noed at the helm, it is quite likely that when war comes, the civilians of conquered worlds will be far more easily pacified.

Regardless, the citizens of the Order of Snoke can enjoy the unprecedented prosperity and security that Noed has brought since her ascension – for it is not like they would be permitted to think anything else.

ON TOVA REN, COMMANDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF REN

There have been many Commanders of the Knights of Ren over the centuries. There have been assassins so secretive that they infiltrated the halls of Coruscant with none the wiser. There have been towering warriors, who have slain thousands in glorious combat, who have crushed Jedi under their heel and stood down armies. There have been strategists of utter brilliance that have turned sure defeats into triumphant conquests.

The Commanders are defined by the role they find themselves molded into, guided by the Supreme Leader, Asha-Krataa, and Acolytes of the Beyond. No Commander is ever the same, there are a thousand small nuances to each – even if they all wear the robes and wield the crossguard saber.

Though even this is unique. It is true that each Commander has wielded the same hilt for centuries now – reforged after its theft by the Shartan dynasty – but it would be a mistake to believe there is no means of making it their own. The Commanders might not have forged the hilt, but they have made the journey to Exegol, and to the buried crystal caverns below. The color is never set, and is determined by the crystal forged by the Commander in question.

So now let us ask – what defines Tova Ren?

Faith.

It is atypical, but certainly not something to judge – especially considering her history. Imagine a young twi’lek child living as a slave under a hutt overlord. She was merely a girl at the time, and her gift had only just begun to manifest, and her parents feared she would be taken away, so they did everything they could to protect her – and get her to safety.

Fate would ordain that one of the Order’s spies learned of the girl, and approached the parents with an offer – they did not know if they could trust the mysterious stranger, but they handed the girl over, and she was brought to the Order of Snoke. Within this society she was raised, and she was told of her past, where she had come from.

This was what committed her to the faith of the Acolytes. For what were the chances that the right person would just so happen to come to her nameless world and rescue her from the horror that was fated for her? She does not seem to follow the conventional belief of the Acolytes, rather, she elevates the Force itself rather than the dark side alone. Yet she is too committed for anyone to really interfere with her evangelizing.

Her power in the Force only grew as she was taught to harness it, and she demonstrated a particular talent for healing – becoming one of the foremost innovators in the field. When she was ready, the Acolytes of the Beyond welcomed her into their ranks with open arms. Together with her peers, she has developed new rituals and blessings that endow protection and healing upon others. She has ministered all across the Snoke territory, and her face is more known to the public than any Commander of the Knights of Ren before her.

There are none who are more committed than Tova Ren to the Order of Snoke, and the idealistic vision of it. She can often be found, not in isolated meditation or in dueling arenas, but within the community. Healing the sick, instructing children, singing in the choirs, and preaching to the people. She is more than a leader, she is a fixture in the wider community of the Order of Snoke, beloved in a way that few beyond the Supreme Leader ever achieve.

Let me not downplay her own martial capabilities, however. She may not be a deadly assassin on par with Beolo, a duelist who can match Kylo, or have the omnipotent dominance of Rey – but I doubt there have been any who have had her sheer charisma. Tova can inspire others in ways the Commanders never have before, and with her own powers, ensure that neither she nor her people will ever fall.

Do you remember the world where she came from? She returned there – along with the full military might of the Order. The hutt master, along with the slavers were executed in a grand ceremony, by the emerald blade of her weapon. And she found her parents alive, staring in awe at what their daughter had become.

She was happy they were alive, for she could show them the correct path, and introduce them to her perfect society and community. For reasons unknown, it is said they resisted this at first, but gradually – over time – she personally made them see the light, so to speak. Today, they are proud citizens of the Order of Snoke – and they are proud of their daughter, whose name is spoken throughout it.

ON FONNA VE, EMBODIMENT OF THE VISION

Allow me to paint a picture, dear reader. Imagine you work in the labyrinthine bureaucracy of the Galactic Alliance. You ‘push paper’ day in and day out. You came into this with wide-eyed ambition and idealism – you wanted to help people in a meaningful way. Yet after all this time, you see only waste and hardship.

You see a system designed to help people be subverted into a mechanism of harm and graft. You see the truth in the system and you are powerless to stop it or confront it. Your coworkers have given up. Your superiors are complicit. Your leaders are only interested in their own power.

You are a dead thing, molded by dead power, surrounded by dead men.

Yet you do not want to die.

You cling to a sliver of your soul.

Then, one day, you snap. You leave everything behind and flee to the Outer Rim – the one place free from the red tape and corruption. Things are simpler out there, but also more brutal in a way. And it is in this rugged corner of the galaxy that you find hope in something new. Something better.

That was the case for Fonna Ve.

She saw the waste and misery the system produced and felt powerless against it. As an iktotchi, she could glimpse the truth behind the honeyed words of her superiors – lies laid bare as she touched their thoughts. She felt the hopelessness and dreariness from her colleagues. She felt the despair of the people.

Imagine Coruscant, reader. Do you truly believe that the majority of its people are happy?

Now imagine that their minds were exposed to you, and you could sense the despair of trillions of minds at once. There is a reason that iktotchi require special training to block out other minds before they visit any world with a large urban population – otherwise most iktotchi kill themselves after only months.

She fled this misery, and found the Order of Snoke in her travels.

Imagine the culture-shock of leaving the ineffective Galactic Alliance and seeing with your own eyes the efficiency and equity on display in any Order of Snoke city – some of you will have an easier time imaging than others, I suspect. She found a society that functioned. A bureaucracy that uplifted people. She found purpose.

No, more than purpose, she found a society that she knew was happy.

And she wanted to play a part in ensuring they were happy – forever.

Once acclimated to this society, Ve joined the Asha-Krataa and began her meteoric career as one of society’s most essential caretakers. The Asha-Krataa has prospered as a result. Seven years ago, Fonna Ve was elevated to the top leadership position and since then, the organization has only expanded. Truly, only one who has seen the worst in the galaxy could foster something so pure.

For so long, she had seen only misery, stagnation, and abuse be heaped upon the people. Their minds cluttered by scattered and half-formed thoughts. They were plagued by doubts, uncertainties, and a thousand small miseries. With a wave of her hand, she has erased all such – for that gets in the way of happiness.

The Asha-Krataa had always brought such as a secondary mission, but under Ve, she has made it their primary one. One day, unhappiness, misery, and dreariness will be expunged from civilized languages, for they serve no purpose.

Ve shall make the people of the Order of Snoke content and happy.

Forever.

ON HRO, MINISTER OF TRUTH

The spiritual successor of General Hux, Minister Hro is – regrettably – a man without a voice. Born to poor farmers on Altora, Hro was born with a genetic condition that rendered him deaf. In a more well-to-do family, he might have received a mechanical implant or even gene-therapy. Instead, he was forced to watch a world with no sound, destined to be forgotten to the annals of history.

So how does he lead the Ministry of Guidance? This esteemed institution that refines and disseminates some of the finest propaganda in the galaxy? The one which is essential to the continued existence of the Order of Snoke?

Sheer, indomitable will.

Despite his condition, his family was able to overcome. His parents learned Imperial Standard Sign-Language and taught it to him before teaching him to read. A curious child, he spent hours each night after his daily chores poring over the HoloNet for information on history and culture. He was most fascinated by the spoken word and the ability to move the masses. He downloaded and memorized dozens of transcribed proclamations and speeches from General Hux as well as other orators.

His inability to do the same was frustrating, until he realized that the spoken word was not the only weapon in a propagandist’s armory.

Social media and memes, fads and trends, politics and religion. Anything and everything could be altered and adapted to serve the state or an individual. How quickly law-abiding civilians could turn to a bloodthirsty mob. How stone-cold atheists could become fanatical cult followers. How people could forget the truth when bombarded with lies. These observations fascinated him, as it dawned on him that it mattered not if one side had more people, money, or weapons – it meant nothing if they could not secure the minds of those who used or followed them.

It formed the foundation for his philosophy that would eventually lead him to the Order of Snoke – and the position he now holds.

His parents scrapped and scraped until they could afford to send him off-world to Revyia, to join the Tyia Academy of Arts. When he arrived, in his best clothes, he was beset by the jibes of other students who ridiculed his rustic garb and disability. He hated them, but turned that hate into focus and set about trouncing these well-bred and well-dressed Imperials.

And he did.

He was top of his class, time and again.

But the ridicule continued, though he did not take such abuse lying down, no, he did not ignore the jibes, instead he observed the snobbish elite students. He watched them. He noted their patterns and mindsets. He gathered information – and turned that information against them. With carefully shared fabrications, through proxy accounts, he retaliated through rumors and the written word.

A word said or mentioned to the right person set the gossip train alight. Private messages under pseudonyms to administrators or friends of those who tried to ruin him. Slight accusations, ones of embezzlement, more serious ones, such as rape or murder. It was a careful fabrication of truth and lies, and the result was that they became tainted.

Because he understood that truth was not necessarily what was real. Truth was what it was perceived to be.

Accusations were thrown around of course, between various families, friends of them, and for a brief time the entire university was embroiled in scandal. And no one suspected the rustic mute boy who simply watched the chaos, fanning the flames when necessary, but largely letting the fire he had started burn on its own.

And yet, it wasn’t enough. Others, far less deserving, were still given preferential treatment. In the Fellan Imperium, it is often who you are or who you know that determines success. It embittered young Hro, who knew the limits of what he could do – and one thing he could never change was his class. To the elite, he would always be lesser.

Despite this, he graduated with honors and received doctorates in xenopsychology and xenosociology, but found little interest in his résumé within Imperium society. The experience with the true face of the Imperium – the nepotism and elitism – disillusioned him. His belief in the necessity of empire was stronger than ever, yet he only saw flaws in the Imperium.

He resigned himself to his fate and turned back to the HoloNet – his perpetual companion and the only place he felt he could exert control and reside within without judgment – trying to seek out something better. While it was taboo in the Imperium, and he kept it to himself, he held an admiration for the First Order, especially the more he learned. Their meritocracy appealed to him, and he lamented that he had been born too late, as in this empire perfected, perhaps he could succeed.

Alas, Snoke was dead and the First Order defeated.

Or so he thought.

Eventually, his activities on various political chatrooms and forums came to the attention of the Ministry of Guidance. The Recruiters took an interest in young Hro and reached out to him to determine if he would be a worthy addition to the Order of Snoke. After months of back-and-forth conversations and hidden tests, Hro was offered a job at one of the Order’s shell companies in Imperial Space and placed in the social media department to work on political articles.

His fervent enthusiasm and hardline First Order leanings made him an essential asset. Within a year, he was working directly with the Ministry of Guidance.

His efforts to expand the First Order political movement on the HoloNet helped fast-track him into managerial positions, eventually ending with his ascension to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Guidance. Finally, he had found a place where his talents were fully realized, and he is now one of the most devoted to its idealist vision.

Since taking control, the mission has become altered to align with the intentions of the Supreme Leader to prepare for their proper return to the galaxy – as well as keeping order at home. Cooperation has deepened with the Asha-Krataa, and doctrine has been slightly tweaked to enhance loyalty and patriotism to the community and state.

But Hro also knows the galaxy. He knows it better than most in the Order of Snoke, and he knows that there are trillions who are crying out for something to fill the voids in their hearts and minds.

The underlying philosophies of Snoke are seeing a resurgence throughout the galaxy, carefully encouraged by Hro’s efforts to prime the galaxy for their return. Just as the First Order emerged as a political movement, so, too, will it resurge in a similar way.

His efforts have already borne fruit. Sympathetic political movements have been seen in the Galactic Alliance as well as the Techno Union, there are even rumors that breakaway factions in Mandalorian Space ascribe to First Order philosophy. More curiously, such philosophies have found purchase in many labor movements and outlying planets.

Hro knows that the machine that keeps the status quo intact will soon break – and when it does, the Order of Snoke will be there to provide the people what they have always wanted.

ON KOLTRU, GRAND ADMIRAL OF THE FIRST ORDER

You might have seen a picture of this man – perhaps the bounty posters that appeared a decade ago in the Outer Rim – and done a double-take at his near-tar-black skin and bulbous green eyes. After all, who amongst you can envision one of the Migrant Fleet’s most decorated captains defecting to a nominally Sith organization? Well, I would submit this as further evidence that the Order of Snoke is not Sith – and see how they benefit from this.

Grand Admiral Koltru was a captain in the Migrant Fleet, commanding the heavy-carrier Xashii for ten years – serving with distinction in the War Fleet. There was no one more loyal to the Migrant Fleet of Dac than Koltru. So how did he come to join the Order of Snoke? Dear reader, it is a tale of tragedy and triumph.

While Koltru and those beneath him would never hesitate to lay waste to alien worlds and peoples, it is another thing entirely when your own flesh and blood are singled out for judgment.

Koltru had no children of his own, instead waiting for his sister to produce nieces and nephews he could dote upon endlessly. His family wanted for nothing and enjoyed everything the Fleet had to offer, but it still wasn’t enough. One day, his sister and brother-in-law were successful, and she laid a clutch of viable eggs. The future nieces and nephews of Koltru were placed in an artificial crèche – as is the custom – and cared for by schools of moappa who tend the eggs and ensure the enclosure’s systems are fully functional.

Yet fate would decree that no happiness was to come to their lives, as the ship containing the crèche was attacked by a number of well-armed pirate vessels. The pirates were decimated of course, but not before they damaged the ship – along with the crèche. That alone could be fixed, were it not for a subsequent attack by the Migrant Fleet Underground who judged it as the best time to strike.

The crèche was sabotaged. An increase in heat killed dozens of eggs before life could be experienced. All in an effort to kill the moappa tenders, who the Underground judged as the greatest threat. Nearly all of his sister’s eggs were killed, along with many others. The reprisal was swift and harsh – the perpetrators had been caught and punished, but it did not change the fact that the crèche had been decimated.

Only one of his sister’s eggs survived – but it had been damaged. When Uwu hatched, she was disfigured and lame. Koltru, knowing the laws surrounding eugenics in the Fleet, used his political capital to protect the child from any government interference. She would be healed, he promised, and her deficiencies would be corrected. The High Admiralty was displeased, but they respected him enough to not interfere as the child grew.

Despite the ostracism she received from her peers, Uwu’s life was a happy one. That all changed when – on a field trip – she left the ‘protective’ field of ysalamiri influence and felt the thrum of the Force in her blood.

It terrified her.

To feel the Force amongst the Dacian peoples is to be an enemy of the state – worthy only of death or enslavement. Given her disabilities, Uwu was destined for the airlock. She kept it secret until she returned to her family and confided in her uncle. In an instant, everything Koltru believed in was called into question because of this child he loved more than any other.

The details of their harrowing escape are not relevant. Koltru took Uwu and her mother and fled the Migrant Fleet – stealing what they could on the way out. From there, they fled from port to port, always one step ahead of the bounty hunters that chased them. And what did they find out in the galaxy? Harsh brutality and prejudice – as expected. But they also found warmth and charity, from aliens no less – quite unexpected. What they saw clashed with the omnipresent propaganda of the Migrant Fleet, only further disillusioning them.

It was in one of these ports that they encountered a disguised recruiter for the Order of Snoke. They offered a new opportunity to these political refugees. Skepticism abounded, but they had little else to cling to – so they accepted. The world they entered was vast and new and familiar in ways, while radically different in others. Koltru was enamored by the efficiency he saw in the Order’s meritocracy, and of the future Uwu might have in a place that did not discriminate against the infirm or alien.

Koltru offered his services to the navy, as well as certain schematics he had purloined in his escape. The blueprints for the Xashii laid the foundation for the Toleraratis-class assault-carrier that serves as the backbone of every fleet in the Order of Snoke. That contribution alone would be enough to cement his legacy in the Order, and yet it wasn’t enough for him to offer stolen goods and information. No. Koltru wanted to contribute himself to this great endeavor.

There is no handholding in the Order of Snoke. An accomplished naval officer who defects to the Order must go through the entire program from the beginning. So it was for Captain Koltru, who was ‘demoted’ to ensign and forced to climb the ladder of military leadership. What normally takes ten years took him two – at no point was he ever given preferential treatment. The day he became admiral was the day the Order welcomed one of the most gifted military minds into the fold.

When he was elevated to grand admiral and took his seat on the Supreme Council, the galaxy trembled. What once would have led the heathen vessels of the Migrant Fleet to victory, now leads the Order of Snoke in opposition. Black of night and light of stars will determine the future, and Grand Admiral Koltru will bring victory to those who have tasted defeat.

ON ESYYK, THE SCARLET TORRENT

What does it mean to be Commandant of the Scarlet Legions?

It is not a position that is easily attained, for there are certain aspects to it that are not easily apparent. What you might not have realized, reader, is that the Commandant is always one of the most powerful Force-users in the entire Order of Snoke. They receive additional training and development not normally given to the rest of the Scarlet Legions.

However, to be Commandant is to be in a balancing act.

One must be able to lead the Scarlet Legions with skill and authority, and one also must be an utter terror on the battlefield. When the Commandant takes the field, it should herald the absolute twilight of the conflict. Historically, Commandants were the first into battle, and the last of the survivors.

To be an effective Commandant is to harness the full range of your emotions. Fury, anger, hatred, duty, each of these are drawn upon and used to devastating effect. There are Legionaries who employ this, but this does have the effect of compromising their judgment. One cannot be emotional, and also be expected to impartially lead a department of thousands.

Nonetheless, that is what the Commandant is expected to do.

Enter Esyyk.

He is an atypical recruit. A wookiee, he inherently stands out from the crowd – though in battle, there are few others you would want at your side. Esyyk grew up in the original First Order under Snoke, and when his Force-sensitivity was discovered, there were many who coveted him. Though most believed he belonged in the Scarlet Legions – so that was where he went.

To the surprise of none, he proved to be exceptionally dangerous in the Legion, and there were almost none who could stand up against the sheer power and fury this wookiee brought to bear. However, there were many who believed he was just another savage weapon to be turned loose on an enemy.

Surprisingly though, despite the utter brutality Esyyk rained down upon the enemies of the Legion, he retained a keen strategic mind. His superiors were curious, and took a closer look. As it turned out, he had developed a means of ensuring that his rage did not become toxic to him.

He knew nothing of wookiee tradition or culture beyond their language – how could he when he grew up in the Order? So instead, he developed other means. Like many in the Order, he is strongly religious, and regularly attends the services performed by the Acolytes. He has calming hobbies including artwork, where he channels his remaining emotions into pieces that are a window into the furnace of his heart – depicting gory battlefields, enemies torn limb from limb, and the burning of planets.

This is how he tempers the furnace. It impressed his superiors, who began elevating him – watching carefully if this could be maintained. More and more was asked of him, more and more he was expected to give. More and more he needed to draw out power from the furnace. And yet still he succeeded in never losing himself.

No one else has so perfectly embodied the duality of Fire and Ice.

It is no surprise that he was eventually elevated to Commandant of the Scarlet Legions, a man who in the heat of battle is a torrent of fury and power that not even Jedi can stand against – yet when he strategizes, he becomes coldly focused and allows his tactical mind to work. If you think that you only need fear one part of him, you are gravely mistaken.

I suspect there would be many in the Alliance and Empire who will regret their inability to kill this particular soldier. Esyyk has seen the First Order at its height, and has stuck with it since its fall. He has centuries of experience and leadership now, and he has not grown dull with age – and he has never stopped preparing for the Order’s return. There are those who will impose expectations on him, but I would caution against that.

To define Esyyk by one aspect or another is to misunderstand who he is. He is the furnace, and he is the blizzard. You cannot have one without the other.

And should you be unfortunate enough to face either his body or mind, you will come to find this out for yourself.

ON REM LEZAR, EYES OF THE BEYOND

A zeltron man of insurmountable faith and destiny, Rem Lezar has been a fixture of the Order’s religious society since becoming the head of the Acolytes of the Beyond thirty years ago – teaching entire generations of the faithful. Shrewd in political dealings yet empathetic and caring to those most in need, Lezar is a complex figure.

Raised within the Acolytes of the Beyond since birth, one would expect a rigid and dogmatic individual, one who brooks no dissent. This is true, in certain things – the Corollary of Ochi is undeniable truth in his sermons and any faithful who question are heretics – and yet there is a warmth within this man that permeates any who interact with him.

Under his direction, the Acolytes of the Beyond have expanded philanthropic policies aimed at alleviating the suffering and deprivation of the Order’s most downtrodden. Any outsider would look at this with confusion. Why would a ‘dark side cult’ – as they would so sneeringly say – help the unfortunate? Why indeed. It seems to go against the very nature of the dark side and of the teachings of the Sith. But do not forget, the Acolytes are not Sith. And the Order of Snoke does not abandon anyone who can benefit the meritocracy.

While others in the Collective may see poverty as weakness, the Order of Snoke sees it as a societal ill – one which hampers a citizen’s ability to contribute to the state. Through the Acolytes of the Beyond, formerly useless citizens are offered an opportunity to stand on their own two feet proudly in service of the state.

Rem Lezar pushed this policy after spending time in the slums on the outskirts of Kijimiko City. A blight and failure of an otherwise outstanding system. He organized the local chapter of the Acolytes and began recruiting locals into the faith. His most prominent outreach was to local children, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise desolate upbringing.

With the success of his doctrine in the Order of Snoke, under the charge of the Supreme Leader, he has begun the process of expanding outward.

The beliefs espoused by the Corollary of Ochi are spreading out into the galaxy, most notably in the Outer Rim, but they have found some purchase in surprising places – it is rumored that there are Jedi who have begun taking an interest, as well as Imperial Knights. Just as Hro is to prepare the galaxy for the political ramifications of the Order of Snoke, Rem Lezar is to prepare for the spiritual ramifications.

And there have been many seeds sown across the galaxy.

To understand his success is to understand his abilities – Rem Lezar is a ‘Dream-Weaver.’ He can influence and manipulate the dreams of others, most-especially children, to guide them on the path of the faithful. There are many places he takes them. In particular, he enjoys taking them to places which no longer exist – having been lost to natural disaster, terrorist attack, or even simple construction dismantlement. Similar in many ways to full-immersion virtual reality, but with the benefit of being completely real – after all, reality is mere perception, and nothing is more true than a dream.

There is nothing more beautiful than the smile of a child who has felt the touch of Rem Lezar.

ON NATHIS REN, SUPREME LEADER OF THE FIRST ORDER, AND COUNCILOR OF THE ORDER OF SUPREME LEADER SNOKE

In the beginning, Nathis was but one of many in the Order’s military machine. His aptitude for combat and his strong connection to the Force led him to join the Scarlet Legions right after secondary school – where he received two doctorates, one in military strategy and another in applied xenopsychology. His career was initially unremarkable, as he spent two years on garrison duties before an opportunity arose for him to join the officer corps.

Yet the meritocracy paid off, and over the next decade, Nathis rose through the ranks of the Scarlet Legions before finally achieving the position of Field Commander – one of the most important positions in the Legion. He worked closely with Commandant Esyyk during this time and the two men formed a strong respect for one another that continues to this day. At the time, there was discussion of moving him directly into a leadership position, perhaps even Commandant – if Esyyk were of a mind to step down, that is.

However, fate intervened as it so often does for men and women of destiny, and Nathis was approached by the Knights of Ren. Now, they did not identify themselves as such – the recruitment process is very opaque, so as to avoid encouraging the candidate to perform better than they normally would – instead, Nathis was given tasks and missions that made sense in the context of his position, but also encouraged him to operate alone. And following these tests, he suddenly found himself in a different arena – that of management and politics.

There was a reason Nathis had gained attention from above – and it wasn’t solely due to his own skills and power, which were strong enough that the Heralds were demanding he be transferred to them, fearing that he was wasted potential otherwise. This would have happened… were it not for a direct refusal by Supreme Leader Grier Sego.

And one simply did not ever defy the Supreme Leader – especially not Sego.

The reason for this interest stemmed from conversations Nathis was having with others in his unit, as well as with his superiors. He was constantly looking for ways to refine, improve, and look forward. He did not trust the other Sith Orders, and knew that one day there would be a conflict, and he feared that the Order of Snoke was insufficiently prepared to face the Collective – let alone the rest of the galaxy.

There are no secrets or hidden motives in the Order of Snoke, and the Asha-Krataa relayed this back, expecting to be directed to provide some course correction. However, instead of being offended, Sego was impressed at the man’s foresight and perception. From that point on, he took a direct interest in Nathis – because he was one of the few who was willing to challenge in a constructive way.

And in the Order of Snoke, men who challenge are either corrected or marked for greatness. The tests to initiate him into the Knights of Ren were passed, and he was who Sego thought he was. Despite little traditional training in the ways of the Force, Nathis proved more than capable of holding his own against the previous Commander – using unorthodox strategies learned in the Scarlet Legions. To this day, even though he bears a crimson lightsaber, he fights in armor reminiscent of the Scarlet Legions, and will often eschew his saber for the blasters he used for years, guided by the power of the Force.

His induction into the Knights of Ren was followed by a personal meeting with Supreme Leader Sego.

Let there be something understood about Grier Sego – he is a man indomitable, and there are few who embody the ideal of leader more than he. You will never find someone, even outside of the Order of Snoke, who does not respect the man. With impeccable posture and restrained fashion taste, Sego was a unique man in many ways, not least of which for being a nikto – the only non-human Supreme Leader in history – and one blind to the Force.

And despite this, for years he sat on the High Council of the Sith Collective. Not once did he act ill-at-ease, nor did any of the others disparage him. Doubts about such a man were quashed when Darth Timoris attempted to test him – and found him immune to the terror she so casually inflicted. Her aura – which taints the air and has made hardened soldiers weep before her – was endured in stoic silence by Sego.

There are few who have the true respect of Darth Timoris. Grier Sego is one of those people.

He also disliked the Sith. Still dislikes, to this day. This is not a secret. He supports the alliance as a means of convenience, to a greater end, but he views the Order of Snoke as fundamentally different to the rest of the Collective, both organizationally and philosophically. He also sees many of the Orders as unprepared for the responsibilities of ruling a galaxy, whereas the Order of Snoke has a functioning society that currently spans worlds.

Yet he is old, and many were expecting him to abdicate – but he was holding out for the right person. He knew his most consequential decision would be his successor, for they would lead the Order of Snoke to war, and they would succeed or fail. To Sego, he needed someone who knew who the enemies were – and what would be necessary to achieve victory.

Ah, a moment, am I surprising you, reader? That I am speaking so casually of things that seem to be secrets?

Please, it is no secret. We all know that the Collective will end with our victory over the Jedi. It is no great offense that others realize this as well. Put it out of your mind. We are Sith, and there is not enough room in the galaxy for all of us to succeed.

Let us return to the newly knighted Nathis, and his meeting with the Supreme Leader. Sego laid out everything plainly and clearly to the young Knight, and stated his intent to step down in the near-future to pave the way for the person who would lead the Order of Snoke to victory. That person, he said, was Nathis.

Nathis was shocked at this, of course, but took it in stride, and one did not question the Supreme Leader in this way – because it confirmed to him that what he’d believed was true. He did not question, but committed himself to assuming this role. For five years Nathis was groomed by Sego to assume his role.

He grew in importance and power. He became Commander of the Knights of Ren for a time – taking the surname ‘Ren’ as every Commander had before him. He was among the few who knew the true power of the Order of Snoke – and the vision and mission that drove it. In his own mind, his own vision for how he was going to rule was taking shape – encouraged by the Supreme Leader himself, who wanted him to have such thoughts.

Then, when Sego was satisfied, he stepped down and nominated Nathis Ren to become Supreme Leader of the First Order, and Councilor of the Order of Snoke. Nathis was well-known to the others on the Supreme Council, allowing him to be confirmed almost the same day.

In his inauguration, Nathis stood before millions of the Stormtrooper legions, and millions more citizens who turned out to attend, along with many more listening throughout the worlds of the Order of Snoke. His speech was a herald of things to come – he performed the expected customs, he told his story, he praised Sego, but throughout all of it was an undercurrent; a thread of what he was planning.

The First Order was going to war – and it would be soon.

Once in power, Supreme Leader Nathis Ren wasted little time in undertaking the monumental task of preparing the Order of Snoke properly for this endeavor. He elevated those who shared his vision, altered department missions as needed, and started to influence the galaxy once more. The Fellan Imperium, Galactic Alliance, Sith Collective, Mandalorian Union, all of the galaxy has fallen in his sights, and he is directing the Order of Snoke to prepare for each of them.

The details remain unknown, of course, but I suspect they will be comprehensive, and draw upon the vast talent in the Order of Snoke. Grier Sego still acts as an advisor, and Nathis continues to rely on his advice frequently – but no longer hangs on each word as he initially did.

This shall be his own vision for his people – and he is the harbinger of their victory.

ON OFFERINGS

I believe that is sufficient.

I commend you, reader, for making it to the end of this particular chapter. I apologize for the length, but I assume that if you have access to these words, you are not one who is intimidated by pages of detail and philosophy. Nonetheless, I acknowledge this was longer than even I am used to – but it was necessary.

The Order of Snoke, or the First Order – whichever you prefer – is unlike anything else in our Sith Collective. A Sith Order that is not Sith. One which elevates the Force-blind so highly. One which has an established society, government, and territory. It is unique, and sadly overlooked by many, even within the Collective.

I hope that I have dispelled this particular illusion.

This is what the Order of Snoke offers to the galaxy – and to you – a political philosophy. It is a government of structure and order. To join the Order of Snoke is to be a part of something greater than yourself. To affect billions within their corner of the galaxy. Those of you reading this might ask: ‘what can the Order of Snoke offer me?’

They can offer you much, reader. I cannot anticipate the minds and hearts of each person who will read these words, but I would be surprised if after reading what is offered there isn’t at least one amongst you who feels it call to you. Perhaps you have a void in your soul that cannot be filled. Perhaps you desire a true community. Perhaps you wish to enter a society free of prejudice and favoritism.

However, I would contest this is the wrong question to ask, for to join the Order of Snoke is to make a sacrifice. A sacrifice of individual ambition for the greater whole. Asking what can be done for you is, perhaps, not in the best form.

I humbly suggest, dear reader, that you ask instead, what you can offer the Order of Snoke.

Chapter Text

SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

THE ORDER OF LORD KAAN

ON MIRRORS

Let us move to a quite unique story in the vast tapestry of the Sith – the Order born out of Lord Kaan’s Brotherhood of Darkness.

Sith Orders and empires arise under different circumstances, some are refinements of what has already existed, others are forged anew from something completely different, and others are the result of inspiration from within the Sith – or beyond it. Nearly all Sith fall into the first two, as they build and refine on top of what they had come from – but the Brotherhood of Darkness was not born from the Sith.

It was born from the Jedi.

Some consider it sacrilegious to say; to even suggest that the Sith at any point took inspiration from our eternal foe. Indeed, many of the Sith of Lord Kaan’s time would deny such an accusation. For they would insist they were following in the footsteps of the Sith of old. They wielded the dark side, they taught from the manuscripts and teachings of old Masters, they ruled from the historical worlds of the Sith, and they opposed the Jedi.

What more could one need to deny the influence of the Jedi?

If you have been paying attention, reader, you would not react to this question with immediate condemnation, for Lord Kaan was the natural next step for the Sith – even if his mind was not already influenced from his own Jedi past. I will go into detail on this shortly, suffice to say Lord Kaan is a curious figure among the Sith, and so often is overshadowed by the fact that he was the last Sith to reign before the betrayal of Darth Bane, and the implementation of the Rule of Two.

But first, it is important to understand what makes the Order of Lord Kaan distinct from the other Sith Orders. It is something deeper than different titles, traditions, or organization. It is a matter of inspiration and intent. The Order of Kaan is a mirror to the Jedi Order, just as the Brotherhood of Darkness was a mirror to Lord Hoth’s ‘Army of Light.’

And while certain individuals in the Brotherhood might have denied this parallel, the Order of Kaan has embraced it as fundamental to their operations, recruitment, and mission.

To the Order of Kaan, they are not just the enemy of the Jedi Order – they are its final, and ultimate, incarnation.

ON EVOLUTION

How, reader, would you describe evolution? Is the first thing which comes to mind the scientific meaning of the word, of life adapting and growing to the conditions it finds itself in? Or does the philosophical meaning speak to you first? Of the process of changing, growing, and improving in response to outside stimuli?

I suppose it does not matter, but a question you no doubt ask is why it matters here? Does the Order of Kaan embrace such a concept in a deeper way than the other Sith? It is hardly the word that leaps to mind when one thinks of Kaan or his Brotherhood.

There is a reason for this, and there is also a reason I choose to speak about it here.

It is true that evolution is an important part of the Sith as a whole. Indeed, the entirety of the Sith Collective is the evolution of millennia of conflict, war, and understanding of the Force and its mysteries. Many of the Orders have evolved from the philosophies, teachings, and structures of their inspirations of old.

But much of that is something natural; unconscious. It is students taking the teachings of their elders and Masters to their logical conclusion. It is not understood as evolution so much as expansion. The academic debate is irrelevant in this context, because the Order of Kaan explicitly embraces the concept of evolution as a foundation of this philosophy and mission.

There is debate on if this was an actual belief held by Kaan himself, but intentional or not, that was how he de facto structured the Brotherhood of Darkness. However, there was one critical difference between Kaan and the leaders of this Reborn Brotherhood – Lord Kaan intended for the Brotherhood of Darkness to be the final evolution of the Sith.

He saw the infighting, the petty grudges, the self-sabotage, and resolved to solve this problem. He saw the inefficiencies and failures and resolved to purge them. He saw how the Sith had been defeated, and took steps not to repeat their mistakes. His Brotherhood was one that was more united, less brutal, and, indeed, an objective softening of the philosophies and principles that had guided Sith of old.

One can question the actual implementation of Lord Kaan’s evolution of the Sith Order. They can scoff at it, and say that by rejecting such teachings and traditions, he was diluting the Sith and ensuring his inevitable defeat. Some would go so far as to not call Kaan Sith at all, and there are references by Sith scholars that classify the New Sith Wars as a Jedi civil war – classifying the Brotherhood of Darkness as rogue Jedi.

Patently false. Purge these poisonous words from your mind.

I do not adhere to the philosophy of Lord Kaan, and indeed, consider him at best a flawed and ultimately ineffectual Sith who was brought down by one more deserving of his power – but I would never deny that he was Sith. Recall how a Sith is defined from the earliest chapter. It does not matter if Kaan or the Brotherhood was your perfect incarnation of the Sith – he was still Sith, for he pursued and acquired power.

In some ways, the Brotherhood was a precursor to the modern Sith Collective. Kaan, too, sought to address the shortcomings and mistakes of the past – though he made mistakes in doing so, even as he tried to build an evolved Sith Order. To this end, the Order of Lord Kaan has taken this approach – but gone in a more radical direction as to where their evolution comes from.

For they do not consider themselves the final evolution of the Sith – they consider themselves the final evolution of the Jedi.

You will see why shortly.

And it starts with their namesake.

ON SKERE KAAN

The story of Skere Kaan is one that will initially seem familiar. I could tell you many stories of Jedi, disillusioned with their Order or the Republic which they were slaved to, who leave to pursue their own ambitions. Some leave with the intention of joining the Sith, others come to that path naturally.

Skere Kaan, however, was not a mere Jedi – he was one of the greatest Masters of the Order at that time. Coming from a nameless, irrelevant family, he was inducted into the Jedi Order and soon demonstrated a talent for capabilities that others simply did not – the most famous of which was his Battle Meditation, an art that had died within the Order, and indeed, in the galaxy at large.

Knowledgeable in military strategy, logistics, and economics, he was a prominent Jedi commander who saw opportunity in sowing dissent amongst the various Sith warlord factions that made up the New Sith Empire. He also saw the flaws of the Republic, which was institutionally and economically weakened from centuries of sustained war.

Nonetheless, Kaan saw a path to victory – though it was one that the Jedi balked at. Kaan wished to institute changes to the Republic and Jedi Order, and militarize them fully to crush the Sith threat. He devised a strategy of divide and conquer, in conjunction with a domino effect where specific Sith cliques would be targeted– breaking Sith morale and their unrestricted reach.

However, the Jedi and Republican military officials flatly refused to even consider such measures, and warned Kaan that he was emulating the methods of his enemies. Kaan argued that such methods were necessary, as at this point, there had been centuries of sustained conflict, and the only reason they had not fallen was due to Sith infighting.

It is unknown what was the final straw that led to Kaan rejecting the Order entirely, but his outspoken opinions on the direction of the war were well-known, and he had attracted a not-insignificant following – which he did not hesitate to employ militarily and politically. In the end, he organized his followers and led an exodus from the Jedi Order.

People often view this action as Kaan ‘joining’ the Sith. This is a very generous assessment to put it simply. Kaan viewed the New Sith Empire – or rather, the cliques which it was composed of – with significant contempt. Admittedly, as the war progressed, and as he learned more and more of the Sith of old (another point of contention with his Jedi colleagues), he found himself agreeing with them – and thus, saw the modern Sith as pathetic, self-interested vermin.

Kaan and his followers marched directly into the domain of the most powerful Sith warlord, and deposed him with shocking ease, much of which was attributed to Kaan’s Battle Meditation, but equally due to his natural charisma – and the Sith military becoming sick of the continual infighting within the Empire.

At the heart of the Sith Empire, Lord Kaan broadcast to the entire territory the dissolution of the Sith Order – what little institutional power remained – and the formation of the Brotherhood of Darkness, the only legitimate Sith entity within the Sith Empire. He decreed that all Sith should submit to him, and turn their weapons against the Jedi and Republic.

He destroyed the opulent palace the Darth had lived within, stating that in the Brotherhood, all would be equal, and the infighting and betrayal that had plagued the Sith would no longer be tolerated. This had an immediate effect, and made Kaan immediate allies in the non-Sith soldiers and officers, many of whom declared themselves loyal to the Brotherhood, and assisted Kaan’s Sith in removing non-compliant Sith.

Kaan himself oversaw what he called the ‘Last Purge’ of the Sith, and led a crusade spanning several years against the holdout Darths and Lords who did not submit. Many lesser and weaker Sith joined him eagerly, but those who had held power in the Empire did not. Yet isolation was insufficient against the united forces of Kaan’s Brotherhood.

In the end, the last of the old Sith were removed, and the Brotherhood stood unchallenged, and Kaan began implementing his vision of a new, superior Sith Order. He made an effort to completely destroy information on many previous Sith rulers of the New Empire, particularly Darth Ruin, Darth Rivan, and Lord Darzu. Incidentally, this is also why we know little of the so-called ‘Dark Underlord’ who ruled for a short period.

Kaan was hostile to any theory or philosophy that he saw as contrary to his worldview – not even worth preserving for academic or historical purposes. In his view, such would inevitably lead to factionalism and betrayal, and everything that he could not outright destroy, he kept under tight control.

Now let us briefly return to when I said that Kaan ‘joining’ the Sith was a generous assessment. Kaan did not join the Sith, so much as he appropriated them. That he effectively performed a hostile takeover, hunted the previous leaders, and desecrated the previous rulers and tried to hide all knowledge of them does not paint a picture of one enamored by the allure of mere Sith power or titles.

Kaan had a distinct vision – and now he could implement it.

It is unfortunate that the Republic was so thorough in their historical purge of Kaan’s Sith Empire, because there is strong evidence that it had little resemblance to the traditional Sith Empire, and had, over the course of the war, been turned into what Kaan had initially strove for when he was a Jedi: a militarized and revanchist Republic.

To a degree.

Kaan did not believe in what is traditionally understood to be a republic, he was an avowed supremacist in the sense that he believed that those who wielded the Force should have dominion over those who didn’t. Where there had been a distinction between the Sith and the civilian administrations of previous empires, there was no such separation in Kaan’s Empire.

The Brotherhood of Darkness was embedded into every single facet of the imperial state, and the Sith had final say over every single policy, law, and decision. It can be argued such had always been the case, but Kaan dispensed with any illusion and ended all doubt that it was the Sith who ruled, and all others were subordinate.

Nonetheless, Kaan was notably a believer in complete representation, though this was solely restricted to Sith, and a core part of why his statement of the ‘Brotherhood being equal’ is not necessarily as straightforward as implied. To him, such representation was a pyramid, where the interests of all relevant parties were to be represented all the way up to him.

It is debated if Kaan actually achieved his vision for the Empire, or if he did the minimum before turning his attention back to the Jedi and Republic, primarily out of a concern that too much time would allow them to regroup and adequately defend. For he knew both groups intimately well, and even with his knowledge – and lack of restrictions – he knew it would be far from an easy war.

The Sith Empire had effectively gone through its own civil war, and was not at full strength. His Brotherhood was similarly smaller in comparison to the Jedi, and while his soldiers were seasoned – the Republic had now had years to prepare and recover. Whatever the calculus Kaan used, he determined it was time to return to the Republic, and finish what the Sith had failed to do for centuries.

ON THE NEW SITH WARS

In the era of the Old Republic prior to the Ruusan Reformations, it is difficult for us in the modern era to understand just how long the Republic had been at war with the Sith. It was a conflict that lasted nearly a millennium, with various Lords of the Sith rising and falling as the Republic desperately clung to their worlds.

Initiated by the schism of Darth Ruin, the New Sith were born under the New Sith Empire, and Ruin led the Sith to many victories against the Republic. It is possible that he would have achieved what so many had failed to do, and bring down the ancient establishment and the Jedi with them.

But we know how this story ends, do we not?

Would you believe me if I said that it was not just Darth Ruin, but many other Sith of note who followed him who also succumbed to this sad fate? It is truly remarkable the tendency Sith of that era had to be on the cusp of victory – and are yet unable to strike the final blow before turning their ambitions on their allies.

The only one who managed to avoid this fate was the Sith we only know as the ‘Dark Underlord,’ who failed to secure control over the majority of Darth Ruin’s fragmenting empire – yet would have succeeded had he not fallen to the combined might of an infamous Jedi warrior and an unknown number of Mandalorian clans.

Some Sith attempted to address this tendency for treachery in their own way. Darth Rivan used Sith magic to bind his subordinates together in an unprecedented grasp of control over the minds of his followers – though this came with its own drawbacks, and Rivan, in his foolishness, did not apply such caution to his own Apprentice, who one day betrayed him as the Republic was faltering.

The last Sith who could have truly succeeded against the Republic was Lord Belia Darzu. A curious figure in that most consider her a Dark Jedi, and not a true Sith – but nonetheless, she carved out her own part of the Empire and had many Sith followers. She was also responsible for the creation of the technobeasts – sophisticated creations that could have turned the tide of the war. It is not inconceivable that she could have succeeded.

Until she too, sadly fell to betrayal.

I believe, reader, you can imagine why Kaan found it necessary to curate Sith doctrine so heavily and reforge it into something different. There is much condemnation and scoffing at Kaan by contemporary Sith for being so foolish as to deny knowledge to Sith, or to curtail their inherent right to power, or to abolish the right of the strong in favor of propping up the mediocre.

But ask yourself a question – and be true to yourself.

What would you have done?

Would you have looked upon the disgrace that was the Sith during the New Sith Wars and conclude that the way of the Sith was flawless and should not be changed? Would you have seen the numerous defeats born on the cusp of victory, and conclude that this doctrine was fundamentally sound?

Truly, what rational person would look upon the fractured Sith and believe that there did not need to be changes?

Perhaps Kaan went too far. Perhaps his Jedi past clouded his judgment. Perhaps this was the way it should have been, and the next Sith to rise under these rules would have succeeded and crushed the Republic once and for all.

Perhaps.

But we cannot know, can we?

I do not pass judgment on the actions of Lord Kaan during this period. It does not matter if they align with my own philosophical views, or if they do not. I do not judge, because I cannot judge. I do not judge, because I can see what drove Kaan to the decisions he made. I can hardly say he was more destructive to the Sith than many of his contemporaries.

And in the end, we are better if we learn from Kaan, rather than ignore and condemn him.

Ah, right, the New Sith Wars.

Do you wish me to say more on this?

Do you want me to recount the numerous battles between Hoth and Kaan’s forces? Do you want me to chronicle the brewing strife within the Republic, and the slow decay of the Brotherhood of Darkness? Do you want an account of all the important figures in this war? For there were many, and this conflict lasted years even after Kaan assumed control.

No, there are history books for that. Read those if you wish details.

There is really only one thing I wish to focus on during this era – beyond the obvious arrival of Bane – and that is the decay of the Brotherhood of Darkness. For Kaan did succeed in stopping the worst of the infighting – but as the war progressed, either through complacency or a deteriorating mind, the Brotherhood became shadows of themselves.

Backstabbing was replaced with office cliques. Knowledge of the esoteric arts was replaced by corruption. Close associates of Kaan’s had little concern with hoarding ‘illegal’ materials or embezzling funds. The Brotherhood became not led by those who succeeded through merit, but through connections and who one knew.

Masters fought over gifted Apprentices, and while outright betrayal was forbidden, there were subtle actions taken, such as sending Sith and soldiers into ambushes or suicide missions, or assigning allies to dangerous locations. The ways of the Sith yet persisted, and new problems arose in place of the old.

It is unlikely Kaan was aware of the extent of this, and we know most of this through Bane – who is hardly an impartial witness. Nonetheless, this is important because it was this decay which drove Bane to embrace the Sith ways of old. And such corruption invited sloth and arrogance.

It did not help that the war took its toll on Kaan himself, especially as the Jedi armies of Lord Hoth continued striking and achieving victory after victory. In his last days, there were many witnesses who noted that the mental acuity of Kaan had significantly atrophied. Some believe it was due to the stress of war, some believe it was Bane twisting his mind, but I will give my own personal theory here.

Kaan felt betrayed.

Not by the Sith, not those he had worked with, not from the Empire he had remade. No, he felt betrayed by the Jedi. For in Lord Hoth he saw himself; a man who had been given license to do what he had begged for. He saw Hoth succeed again and again against him, he certainly saw old plans he had drawn up used against him.

It is perhaps this realization that ultimately broke him. It was not fair to him, it was not right, and it could not stand. The usage of the Thought Bomb is an insane notion, especially in the way Kaan ultimately employed it. Why, I ask myself, did Kaan go through with such a suicidal plan? Did Bane delude him so thoroughly as to what it was?

Bane believed so. I do not.

Remember, reader, that Kaan had access to knowledge of the Sith that not even his Council did, and there is no telling how many records and texts he saw before their destruction. Knowledge has a habit of sticking with a man, especially that which is forbidden. No, I believe Kaan was tangentially aware of what the Thought Bomb was – and he no longer cared about anything other than killing Lord Hoth.

So that is what he did.

One last, final, petty, and vengeful act to end a millennium of conflict. Fitting in a way, and ironic that Kaan did indeed bring an end to the New Sith Wars – though in defeat for himself, the Sith, and his Brotherhood of Darkness. And so, with his death, the Sith were presumed extinct – and Bane began his work.

It is times like this that I reflect on how it could have been different. It is an interesting thought experiment, is it not? What if the Brotherhood had not alienated Bane, who, from all accounts, was initially supportive of Kaan and the Brotherhood? Could he have been enough to ensure Kaan succeeded against the Republic?

Or would it merely have led to an era of Sith darkness?

No Rule of Two. No Darth Plagueis. No Clone Wars. No Galactic Empire. No One Sith.

Consider how many great Lords have come from the Rule of Two. An outdated model now, yet it served its purpose for the time. The Sith would not have died, but I cannot say how it could be reborn – or what the future would have been.

A thought experiment, as I said.

Let us move on.

ON DIVERGENCE AND FAMILIAR PATTERNS

All relevance Kaan had largely died when he did. He became an infamous figure in history for the Republic, and a figure of scorn for the Sith. His beliefs, teachings, and elements which allowed him to gather such power were dismissed as unimportant and irrelevant, and it is unlikely Kaan would have enjoyed a contemporary revival, were it not for the wisdom of Lady Vathila in the creation of this Sith Collective.

A place where all are encouraged to learn.

A place where one can challenge orthodoxy and common understanding for radical reimagining.

A place where even a figure like Skere Kaan can be remembered, and not dismissed with a wave of the hand, but actively debated on the merits and pitfalls of his philosophy and that which is born from it. Such a thing would be unimaginable once, but it is commonplace. So, naturally, your question is how such a revival came about.

Would you be surprised if I told you it came from a Jedi?

No, no, because if you have paid attention, you would have realized that a philosophy like Kaan’s is one which can only truly come from a Jedi. No one who is a follower of an orthodox Sith teaching would even consider something like the Order of Kaan. It is why it is so alien to many modern Sith that it makes them uncomfortable. They can see it has its origins in something that is not Sith.

But such is an advantage in a way, is it not? Is it not prudent to take the strengths of our enemy for our own? The Order of Kaan takes this to its natural conclusion.

Yes, the founding, I am getting to it.

There was a Jedi who left the Order, disillusioned with much of it. She despised the Jedi’s unwillingness to use power in more tangible and obvious ways; she despised the Alliance for being the corrupt and inefficient entity that it was; and she despised that the Order seemed unwilling to even consider what she had to say.

This woman was simply named ‘Zarya,’ and was part of the Militant Order, one who had risen quite far in the ranks, in parallel with a certain Zevro Shartan – though I will save their rather unique relationship for a later section. Suffice to say they knew each other, and while there was much they agreed on, they diverged on what the role of the Jedi was in the galaxy.

I do not know the incident that finally broke her trust in the Order, but after one final mission, she left the Order and never looked back. She was noticed by one of our agents, a woman acting as a vigilante or bounty hunter – depending on the target. She was approached and put through the requisite tests – which she easily passed.

To say she was surprised when she found the Sith is an understatement – yet she did not flee, and after hearing the mission of the Collective, she agreed to join, and shared all she knew of the Order – such that it was. She initially joined the Order of Revan, because while it was not an especially strong analogue to the Jedi Order, there was a structure she was familiar with. In truth, the Order of Krayt was perhaps a closer analogue, but she could not abide the philosophy of the ‘Rule of One,’ and considers the entire Order a wayward cult. Beyond this, she maintained strong disagreements with many other Sith Orders.

Yet the Order of Revan is a strange creation, a hybrid of inherently conflicting philosophies, and all other Orders were Sith creations first and foremost, and Zarya found the adjustment difficult, and was dissatisfied. She turned to research, knowing that there were other Jedi defectors throughout the Orders who were similarly ill-at-ease with where they were. Not all, of course, but enough for her to consider something new.

Learning about Lord Kaan and the Brotherhood of Darkness was the missing piece for her – his story was much like hers, and indeed, like many Jedi who embrace the darkness. Not only that, but he rejected the traditional Sith ways, and created his own. That, she realized, was what needed to happen.

And if no one else would, then she would give new life to Kaan’s vision – with a few more refinements. Zarya did not found the Order of Lord Kaan alone, but with three others – another former Jedi, a rogue chiss, and one curious wanderer who found himself with the Sith. The four who would compose the Capstone of the Order of Kaan still fulfill their roles today.

Lady Vathila gave her blessing to the endeavor, of course, and found it curious that such a man would inspire Zarya so. Nonetheless, despite initial skepticism, the Order of Kaan has managed to not only turn into a large Order with a significant power base behind it, but Kaan’s philosophy has been legitimized and is actively debated among the Sith.

Sometimes I think on this, and know that Bane would be infuriated.

It is important, reader, to enjoy the small pleasures of life.

ON BROTHERHOOD

If there is a core that binds the Order of Kaan, it is the exaltation of brotherhood.

It is a consensus of many of its members that the ultimate downfall of Kaan and the Brotherhood of Darkness was that this value was ignored and left to wither. No one really believes that Kaan meant for the concept of brotherhood to be deeply tied to his empire, but understood it to be a rebranding of the Sith into something new.

It is not to say that Kaan himself did not value brotherhood. Indeed, he was close to many of the Sith of his Council, and believed that camaraderie was essential to victory. Sith working together would always be more successful than Sith acting alone. Yet that was where it stopped, he was content to maintain a status quo where its members would fight with each other – but none of Kaan’s Sith would have died for each other.

And that was something Zarya concluded was a failing of Kaan’s. Not necessarily of intent, but in action. For if the Brotherhood of Darkness were truly a brotherhood, then it is unlikely things would have ended as they did. To this end, Zarya instilled the value of brotherhood deep into the new Order of Kaan.

Perhaps it is an injection of her own personal beliefs and not based on her inspiration, but perhaps it does not matter overmuch. The Sith Orders are to be evolutions and improvements on the old – I expect, that were Kaan’s consciousness not shredded into the cosmic wisps of the Force from the Thought Bomb which consumed him – he would approve of the opportunity to correct his mistakes.

No doubt Zarya’s own Jedi background, especially from the Militant Order, played into this. One must fully rely upon and trust each other in war unless they wish an untimely end. War forges bonds that are not easily broken, and the disagreements you have with your comrades become small in the face of death.

Zarya wanted to do something that few other Sith seek to emulate: make sacrifice and support for others commonplace. She wanted a Sith Order where its members would bleed, fight, and die for each other. And individuals simply will not do that for strangers or even acquaintances, unless they care.

Brotherhood is woven into everything in the Order of Kaan. It is instilled in students from their first day, it is in the duels they carry out with each other, it is in the missions they undertake together, it is in the friendships they forge over work or sport, and even in mundane activities performed together.

It should not be ignored that the Order of Kaan is one of the most tight-knit Orders in the Collective, and each of them hold complete trust in each other. There is no fear of betrayal from within, for the tests and trials conducted weed out those who would betray them. The Order has no qualms about expelling people who do not fit in, and while most Orders are open to any, Kaan is an exception.

If you remain, it is because you belong, not because you choose it.

There is a strength in unity, so was the theory of Zarya, and something that Lord Kaan was never able to fully achieve. Yet today, she has managed to do it, and the brotherhood each member of the Order of Kaan feels for each other is not something to be ignored.

ON RULE BY THE STRONG

The ‘Rule by the Strong,’ as it was informally known amongst the Brotherhood of Darkness, was one of the principal theories that Skere Kaan developed during his reign. It is considered basic and incomplete by most scholars, and largely seen as the first legitimate attempt of Kaan to take all of the various disparate Sith philosophies and teachings and condense them into a single overarching philosophy.

This was showcased in its most basic explanation – which is that the strong should see their power inevitably increase, while the weak should see their power decrease. Kaan was a firm believer in evolutionary culling; the idea that the weak would naturally be culled by the strong, and that decisiveness, ruthlessness, and intelligence were a requirement in war, for one who lacked such qualities would be defeated by one who didn’t.

Despite its shortness, and general vagueness, there is nonetheless some truth to Kaan’s theory, and even some Sith of the Rule of Two conceded that it did not inherently conflict with their own doctrine – for what was the Rule of Two if not the strongest continually asserting themselves?

The problems, at least in how the founders of the Order of Kaan saw it, were patently obvious – for if the theory is to be taken at face value, it would imply that the Sith are permanently the weaker party, considering their repeated defeats by the Jedi. Zarya in particular took issue with the inherent assertion that strength equaled power – and she once stated she’d killed many men who had that same mindset.

This was one of the few parts of Kaan that both baffled and bothered her, because it seemed at odds with his – in her eyes – more reasonable stances. The issue, in her estimation, is not that the inherent rule is necessarily wrong, but it is too vague to be useful in its current incarnation. If there is no definition of strength or weakness, then how can one assess its worth?

Which is stronger? Should one man who is physically stronger be able to overpower a dozen weaker men? Logic says ‘no,’ yet this could technically be permitted under the Rule by the Strong. Likewise, one could say there is strength in numbers, but others would consider that false because if the members are individually weak, they should not succeed.

You begin to see the logical inconsistencies and paradoxes this creates.

Kaan was many things, but he was far from a philosopher, and his approach from the beginning to such a theory was flawed. One simply cannot combine every Sith teaching into a single watered-down theory to encompass all that was and could be. One can build upon the teachings of those who come before, or forge their own, but Sith teachings are often inherently contradictory and conflicting by intention.

The simple fact of the matter was that the Rule by the Strong, as was traditionally understood, was simply not compatible with the Order of Kaan. To that end, the founders adapted it to their needs in a way that preserved at least some of the original meaning.

In the expanded theory for the Rule by the Strong, it is the right of the Sith to rule over all things by their nature as masters of the Force. This gives Sith the claim to all peoples, cultures, governments, and galaxies – and notably does not exclude other Force sects from it as well, for the Force being supreme above all is a core aspect of their philosophy.

The individuality of the Rule by the Strong is stripped out, and replaced by the overarching ‘Sith’ moniker, where the state is exemplified, with the Sith in full control. It is argued that a state that possesses the correct balance of innovation, leadership, technology, mastery of the Force, ruthlessness, and power, will reign supreme over all others.

No one could agree on an objective definition for strength, so they identified elements in successful governments and cultures and noted that this is the minimum to be considered as a ‘strong’ entity. By this definition, it permits any number of potential combinations or structures such that if one is defeated, the Rule is not invalidated.

The Rule by the Strong also inherently rejects the concept of equality by stating that those who cannot wield the Force are not entitled to power, and can never achieve ultimate supremacy. One may question the wisdom of this particular interpretation, but considering Force – and later Sith – supremacy was a core part of Kaan’s philosophy, and a belief that those in the Order share, it would have been more surprising if it was not codified in some way.

While it is not necessarily breaking new ground, most agree that the modern understanding of the Rule by the Strong is the superior incarnation, and it is one that is legitimized, even by other Sith Orders who acknowledge at least some of its principles – if not all of them.

ON EQUALITY

All Sith are equal under the Brotherhood, so it was claimed by Lord Kaan.

It is one of the elements of the Brotherhood that most Sith are familiar with, and most are inherently scornful of it, and even the most generous towards Kaan would agree that such is far from an effective method of leadership and organization. To merely assume equality is to ignore the evidence of eyes, ears, and common sense.

Mass equality is a myth, perpetuated by the masses to protect the egos and feelings of the weak and unintelligent. Such myths are instituted to stunt the ambition and growth of the truly special, the truly exceptional, in favor of a false peace where those who are not equal pretend otherwise, who desperately hope that people do not look closely.

Such a belief is worthy of mockery, no?

Was this what Lord Kaan truly believed?

Not completely.

Kaan did not, of course, endorse the ludicrous idea of mass equality throughout the Brotherhood. Such is against the strict hierarchy that Kaan was a fierce supporter of. Masters above students, generals above soldiers, Sith above all. One can simply not command an empire without an acceptance of hierarchy, and we should dispense with the fiction that Kaan believed this.

The question then leads to what he did mean.

The Order of Lord Kaan has several interpretations of what the intent behind such a statement was. Some believe that it was intended to be rhetorical in function, and mitigate the perception that some Sith Lords were greater than others. This is disputed by others who take issue with the more cynical interpretation.

This group points out that Kaan did in fact effectively abolish any rank above that of ‘Master,’ as well as eliminated a number of pointless military rankings that had been adopted by other Sith before their assimilation. When Sith Lords completed their training, they were effectively equal with even Lord Kaan.

There were exceptions – namely Sith students and weak Force-users within the Brotherhood were not treated with this kind of equality, which scholars theorize was because Kaan believed that declaring clearly weaker Sith equal would be received poorly – so there is certainly some political element at play, but there is dispute over how much.

The Order of Kaan has seen fit to take the sentiment that Kaan expressed, and adapt and refine it to something that is both fair and inclusive. While not all Sith in the Order of Kaan are equal in rank or role, there are expectations for how they are to treat each other. Each Sith is supposed to show the utmost respect and trust to their brethren, from one of the Foundation Lords to the new students.

To the Order of Kaan, equality is best interpreted as providing equal opportunity for greatness. Every initiate to the Order starts at the same place. It does not matter if they were once a Jedi Master, they are now an initiate along with the others. There are no shortcuts within the Order, and that is by design.

This pursuit of equality is employed in other ways as well, particularly in the Foundations. Each of the Foundation Lords who compose the ‘Council of the Sith Dominion’ is equal to each other, as each of them is a singular piece of a greater whole. To that end, there is really no true leader of the Order of Kaan, merely those who fill different roles.

Unofficially, the Capstone Lords as mentioned before are the ones who even the Council will defer to if they cannot reach a consensus. And while Zarya is simply a member of this Council, she is still perceived as its leader, though mostly by those outside it – helped by the fact that she serves as the Order’s representative on the High Council of the Sith Collective.

A final note on how the Order of Kaan employs equality is in expectation of treatment. Within the Sith Dominion, non-Sith are required to treat all Sith – students or not – with the same level of respect and obedience. This is done with the expectation that students will not act beyond their current station or abuse the various citizens of the Dominion.

But to be Sith is to be above all things, and this principle is never compromised.

ON BETRAYAL, PARANOIA, AND BANE’S LEGACY

When it comes to the matter of trust, the Order of Lord Kaan is openly suspicious of outsiders, as well as how other Orders and groups perceive them. The betrayal of Darth Bane has not been forgotten, and it has driven them to become among the most insular of the Collective.

There is an accepted understanding among the Order that betrayal is not a matter of if, but when. This is, of course, not something discussed in public company – for the Order of Kaan does not inherently wish to undermine the function of the Sith Collective.

But between us, reader, there is no need to lie to you.

We must be honest with each other, no?

Some call this Order paranoid – seeing plots and schemes where none exist. They are quick to accuse and suspect where little reason for such exists. They do not apologize, they do not reevaluate, and they never stop watching. Ironically, the only Order they appear to trust with few reservations is the Order of Marka Ragnos – whose mission is to mitigate any potential Sith infighting.

Odd to put one’s faith in such a Sith Lord, but I will concede that Ragnos did not stoop to many of the power plays of his later contemporaries – even if he did not hesitate to exploit such dynamics in his underlings. Nonetheless, the relationship between the two Orders is unique, and one has to admit, the Order of Kaan has reason to be suspicious.

They are an anomaly, and are considered outsiders even in the Collective. The foundations and focus are atypical, even if on paper there should be little reason for contention. Yet they do not forget that they are surrounded by Sith, many of whom adhere to the traditions of the Sith – or otherwise are born from eras where Sith infighting was common.

The Order of Kaan does not trust because it cannot afford to trust. Trust is the most important currency in the Reborn Brotherhood, and should that be broken, it is impossible to regain. The Order remains petrified at the thought of another Bane in their midst, or indeed, anyone who could turn against them.

The Order of Kaan does not expect the Sith Collective to succeed, else they would be more open with their operations with the wider Collective. They would work with the other Orders, and not outside them. Perhaps they are justified in such fears, for such alliances have hardly worked out in the past.

And yet, I feel compelled to note that not even Lady Vathila promises eternal harmony. This Collective exists for the purpose of defeating the Jedi Order. No more, no less. When our enemy is vanquished, then we can expect the final battle for supremacy to take place.

Not before.

But so long as this Order remains aligned, then there is only so much that can be done. Just know, reader, that if you feel as though one of the followers of Kaan does not trust you, do not be offended.

They trust no one but each other.

ON THE SITH DOMINION

Let us explore something different.

You have no doubt noticed in your reading of this text that there have been references to the ‘Sith Dominion,’ and perhaps you have wondered what this could be. Thus far, we have focused on the Order of Kaan itself – but we have not discussed the entity it rules over.

Yes, they do indeed rule over a population. It is hardly expansive, only a system. A testing ground of sorts, one which they liberated from a wayward warlord whose name is best forgotten. For Lord Kaan built a Sith empire, and so, too, will those who seek to follow in his footsteps. Creating a new Sith Order is only half of their mission.

However, the Order of Kaan is not so consumed with hubris that they would dare refer to the single system they possess as an empire. As I said, this is a testing ground, a chance for them to explore and experiment with how best to rule without the war hanging over them. So in lieu of calling themselves a false empire, they instead rule over the Sith Dominion.

If you are asking what the difference is between the Order of Kaan and the Sith Dominion, or rather, if they are two distinct entities, in practice… no. The Order of Kaan is merely shorthand to refer to the actions of the Sith themselves. The Dominion is an extension of the Order, rather than the Order itself.

The Order of Kaan is deeply integrated into every part of the Dominion, as one would expect from Sith rule. There are many examples to draw upon, from empires and governments long-dead and still standing. The Dominion has served an important purpose in helping the Order refine its actual public policies – as we all know, what sounds good in theory sometimes does not translate into practical application.

Make no mistake, the Dominion suffered its share of mistakes.

However, such was the benefit of having an active populace to experiment upon. Oh, do not worry, the Order was not inherently malicious as they modified, adapted, and tinkered with the various systems of governance – few of them had any true governing experience, though one would not expect a Sith to rule like a bureaucrat of all things.

But remember, it is the Sith right to rule. The desires of those who cannot touch the Force are secondary, if relevant at all to the Sith of the Order of Kaan. I merely explain, I do not judge.

Perhaps you shouldn’t either.

I digress.

The Dominion today is a stable entity, as the Order has found a structure and methodology that they are satisfied with. It is a model of what they will one day export to the galaxy, and there are plans for the Order to locate other sparsely populated systems under the control of warlords and establish additional Dominions to stress-test their systems.

So, it is a natural question: what purpose does the Dominion serve?

The answer is simple – the Dominion produces resources for the Sith war machine. Weapons, electronics, components, every manner of production you can imagine, the Dominion produces. Industrialization is a key part of the Dominion’s purpose, and the Order has invested heavily in turning the cities into industrial hubs that will one day produce heavy vehicles and starships.

For now, they produce weapons, armor, and other specialized technologies.

Their secondary purpose is to act as stockpiles for said resources and perishables. The Order has a vision of the Dominion being able to retain complete self-sufficiency in the event of sieges, or to supplement shortfalls in other areas. It is more than just food and weapons – things like blood, organs, and other military supplies are stored in massive warehouses throughout the Dominion – and all excess production goes into them.

The Dominion employs a controlled fiat currency managed by the Order directly. None of them approve of currency as a general rule, and would abolish it but for the fact that they’ve found it’s better to compensate workers with currency they can use for amenities than directly providing things like food or other resources. Until they can invent a better solution, that is what is employed – although said currency is utterly worthless outside the Dominion.

The Dominion also fields a small but fairly professional standing army. Like the rest of their Order, they actively screen their candidates before recruitment. They have made the choice to eschew the usage of waves of soldiers in favor of specialized, elite forces that can be relied upon. Each division is under the command of a Sith, and there is no civilian command apparatus, though there is an equivalent of non-commissioned officers.

As for the lives of the civilians under the Dominion, there are far worse places. The Order makes a point to not be needlessly cruel – but they make no illusions of what is expected of them. They will work in the factories, farms, or other places of employment. They will produce and serve the Dominion for as long as necessary, and those who serve adequately will be rewarded.

Children are sent to Sith-controlled schools who teach competently, but who have a mission to raise children with the proper mindset toward their betters. The Order provides housing, schooling, and equipment for the population, not out of a specific kindness, but because it permits the Dominion to be efficient.

This is the fundamental difference between the Order of Supreme Leader Snoke’s relationship with their population, and those of the Order of Lord Kaan – to the Reborn Brotherhood, the people are ultimately beneath them. They are assets that exist to serve the Sith. It is not done maliciously, but because that is the way of the galaxy. They are not equal to Sith, so why should anyone pretend otherwise?

A sufficient explanation for some, but perhaps not for you, reader. Nonetheless, the Dominion is a critical aspect of the Order’s mission – and with this context, we can now discuss its Foundations.

ON FOUNDATIONS

Now let us come to what I am certain you are curious about – the structure of the Order of Lord Kaan. Now that there is a basis for their philosophy and an overview of the Dominion, it is time to discuss the finer details.

For some readers, you may notice there are some similarities in overall structure to the Jedi Order, in particular, the way in which the Order is segmented. As Zarya – and indeed many of the Order of Kaan – came from the Jedi and took particular inspiration from it, seeing the current incarnation as their most powerful.

A fundamental difference in how the Order views their structure compared to the Jedi is that while the Jedi tend to refer to their divisions as ‘spheres,’ the Order of Kaan embraces their Order as a pyramid, with each section being a piece of the foundation that composes the greater whole.

They are referred to as ‘Foundations,’ as each of them play a critical role in the greater Sith Dominion. Some Foundations are more basic than others, but there are twelve in total, and together they cover all the necessary positions and roles one would expect for a Sith Order to both maintain their own affairs as well as that which they rule over.

We will start with the following one:

ON THE FOUNDATION OF SCIENCE

There are a number of ways that I could begin this discussion of the Foundations – but it is perhaps the Foundation of Science that I will use to illustrate how each functions, as well as what each one ultimately serves. Science is an essential part of any modern society, and the Order of Kaan intends for the Sith Dominion to successfully function and advance.

This Foundation oversees the Dominion Science Bureau, and all Sith who are a part of it are scientists of some form or another. I would like to clarify that this is strictly conventional science – the more esoteric Sith sciences are not performed here, that is another Foundation.

One might ask: what is the focus of this Foundation? For ‘science’ is a very general term, and there are many fields. The Dominion is not an established superpower, nor is it even truly a minor power like Corellia, Kuat, or the other industrial worlds. They do not have unlimited resources, and so they must focus.

And as they seek a militarized Order and Dominion, it is war that they specialize in.

Military science of all types is conducted. Physics for better missiles, weapons, and other military capabilities. Chemistry for better stimulants, gasses, and medical items. Biology for their extensive bioweapons laboratories. The list continues, but it is within a very defined box.

The Sith oversee all of the research and experiments conducted, and take part in them on their own. They are one of the most critical keys to the Dominion’s military power – and help ensure that they remain advanced and lethal.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF SCHOLARS

The days when Kaan ordered the banning of various Sith philosophies that conflicted with his are over. It is seen as a necessary, if not especially successful, stopgap that Kaan was forced to do in the process of consolidating the Sith. Today, the Order of Kaan conducts what they consider a more refined process of Kaan’s original sentiment.

The Foundation of Scholars exists for several reasons. The first is to run the Order’s own archeological mission, where they gather, maintain, or otherwise manage their own collection of relics and artifacts. The second is to conduct research into old Sith figures and philosophies and create various profiles and tiers of assessment as to the ultimate usefulness and feasibility of each.

Which is a quite curious exercise, though make no mistake, the Foundation of Scholars is surprisingly thorough in their research, and other Orders have conceded that they are often more accurate than not. However, the reason that this is permitted is not, in fact, an innocent search for knowledge as Bane did – it’s to prove the inferiority of such philosophies that are not in line with the Order’s own philosophy.

These scholars learn, they study, they research each of these Sith and what they believe – and once they understand, they work to undermine and weaken them when compared to Kaanite philosophy. Entire papers and treatises have been written –anything from disproving some, to simply calling into question its actual worth.

The purpose of this is that, should another like Bane be seduced by the teachings of old Sith, they have arguments and points already prepared to break a nascent faith in something different. And this is something they will not hide. So, if a Sith wishes to learn more about Bane, Palpatine, or other Sith of questionable belief – they can.

And when they come with questions, it is the work of the Foundation of Scholars which will be used to answer.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF INDOCTRINATION

Wordplay is an amusing thing, is it not?

I’m curious what your mind jumped to when you saw that word. You know the one. Is it what you thought it was, or something significantly more mundane? I shall not leave you wondering long, reader.

It is what you think, and also not.

Indoctrination can be thought of as shorthand for ‘assimilation.’ Bringing those new up to speed on details of the mission or organization they are a part of. The Foundation of Indoctrination performs this mission to the letter. It is they who welcome the new initiates and acolytes to the Order of Kaan, as well as any new people to the Sith Dominion.

It is they who provide the information, the training, the assignments and tasks they are expected to fulfill. It is they who lay the groundwork for turning each person affiliated with the Order to their greatest potential. Almost disappointingly mundane, you might expect. Certainly not as foreboding as expected.

Ah, that would be where you are wrong. It is only one part of their mission.

The second part is ensuring ideological coherence. Do you remember the Foundation of Scholars? The research they do? The knowledge they gather? They do the work to discredit and weaken the hostile ideologies – and it is the Foundation of Indoctrination that employs this knowledge offensively.

All curriculums from simple math textbooks to tomes on the Force itself are curated, reviewed, and written by the Foundation of Indoctrination. All of this careful knowledge is woven into these curriculums, enshrining their philosophy on an overt and subconscious level. They are not interested in simply convincing a potential Bane he is wrong – they don’t want such thoughts cropping up in the first place.

Of course, this is primarily targeted at the Sith of their Order – particularly new students. They are not as obsessed with propagandizing the population of the Dominion, as they consider the threat of dissent and deviant ideology minimal due to their standing as Force-blind. Nonetheless, all propaganda initiatives that do take place are conducted through this Foundation. However, there is an element to this that is not purely cynical, because the Foundation of Indoctrination is driven by one simple, concrete belief.

That they are right.

And after millennium, they stand triumphant over Bane’s failed philosophy, and they will ensure it will never rise again.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF INDUSTRY

The Sith Dominion is a war machine, and it is the Foundation of Industry which keeps it oiled.

While the purpose of this Foundation is not especially glamorous, it is nonetheless critical to the Order. Without the Foundation of Industry, the ambitions of the Order, and the Sith Dominion, cannot be fulfilled. Or rather, it would be inefficient, poorly managed, and aimless.

The Sith who control the Foundation of Industry are responsible for ensuring that the Sith Dominion is producing all of the needed resources, weapons, and materials needed for their plans. They manage quotas, workforces, and the various sectors of industry within the Dominion. They are a mixture of administrators and factory managers, with at least one Sith managing each major factory.

They are responsible, not just for ensuring that the factories are producing what is needed, but making sure that their factories have what they need to meet demands. It is a rather thankless, and honestly, unappealing task, and there are few Sith actually needed for this Foundation – leading many to staff civilian members, one of the only Foundations to actively apply this.

However, no one particularly cares, because if the Foundation of Industry were to fall, so, too, would the Dominion soon after.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF BLADES

In formations they stand before soldiers. In armor black and silver, they present themselves. At the crack of an order, they raise their blades of crimson, amethyst, and silver in a rainbow that promises ruin.

You have likely seen the warriors of the Foundation of Blades, the fist of the Order of Kaan. They make up a sizable portion of the Order, and contain their preeminent Sith warriors. Many claim they are equal to those from the Order of Darth Revan, but such a claim has not been tested.

Yet there is something that makes them unique among many of the Orders.

Many Sith, even when they fight together, fight alone. Or if they fight with others, it is a matter of happenstance and circumstance, not intention. For to fight as a Sith is to fight for one’s glory and prestige. It is to make your mark on the galaxy, through blood and violence, so that your song will echo long after you are gone.

First, a matter of descriptions.

There are three roles a Sith can take in the Foundation of Blades. The first are the graceful Blademasters, Sith who wield the amethyst blades, which are longer and thinner than traditional lightsaber blades. Their purpose is to kill Jedi, and others who are foolish enough to engage them in a mêlée duel. Their armor is light, smooth, and swift. They prize agility and speed, and specialize in Form II – an art many consider outdated, but which there has yet to be an adequate successor to.

The second are the brutal Marauders, armored soldiers in silver and gray who carry two blades of silver. Yet do not jump to assumptions – a Marauder can fight with one blade just as well as two, and some are even known to combine both sabers into a double-bladed weapon. Speed, brutality, and unpredictability are the tenants of the Marauder, and they are more than sufficient to overwhelm most enemies.

And finally, there are the invincible Juggernauts, hunks of armor and metal whose crimson blades strike with crushing strength and finality. Juggernauts tower over most enemies, and are able to move with surprising speed despite their enormous size. Experts in Form V, there are few who, if they are able to protect against them, are able to outlast them.

Each of these three kinds of warriors would be dangerous enough on their own – but that is not the strength of the Foundation of Blades. It is that no Sith fights alone. There are no single-Sith teams, but squads of three Sith. These Sith do not train to fight alone, but fight together. The combination does not inherently matter. There can be one of each Sith, two Blademasters and one Marauder, or even all three Juggernauts.

What matters is that they fight together as a single unit.

Imagine the difficulty of fighting one of these warriors – and then realize that you will need to fight two more, and all three are working in perfect harmony. It is something that few Force-users, let alone Sith, actively train in. Yet they are a Brotherhood, and brothers and sisters do not face their enemies alone… they stand together.

Ah, there is one more detail.

This synchronization is not limited to three. While such practice is rarer, up to twelve Sith of the Foundation of Blades have been known to train together. The more of these Sith on the battlefield, the more dangerous they become.

For there is strength in numbers, and few have embodied this better than the warriors of the Foundation of Blades.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF SHADOWS

Lord Kaan had a curious relationship with the concept of intelligence work and other clandestine operations. During the New Sith Wars, he did facilitate the training of the Sith Assassins, which were employed throughout the course of the war – but with the caveat that such a role was only reserved for weaker Force-users whose potential would be permanently stunted.

Furthermore, the way in which he employed them was equally questionable, in the sense that, as their name suggests, their mission was primarily assassination. They were trained just enough to shroud themselves in the Force, then given a weapon and sent to kill. Usually they were officers, or Jedi if they were among the more skilled – but traditional intelligence work was reserved for the small and woefully underutilized Sith Intelligence.

The Order of Kaan has evolved with the times, and understands that such underutilization is simply not feasible – especially considering the Jedi have made a point to build one of their Spheres on intelligence-gathering. For all intents and purposes, the Foundation of Shadows is built to be an intelligence organ – while keeping its original mission of assassination firmly in place.

The Foundation of Shadows can be broken into two distinct parts – the first is Information Collection which is composed of Sith who are primarily infiltrators, trackers, disguise artists, and other intelligence-gathering roles, and they have direct control and influence over the civilian intelligence organ that is part of the Sith Dominion. They rarely take administrative positions, preferring to perform work in the field and have Force-blind civilians perform analysis.

The second part is the Assassination branch, they work with their other half and act in conjunction with the other relevant Foundations. Sith Assassins are trained in many traditional techniques, but unlike Kaan’s era, this is open to all Sith, and many have found that the shadows offer just as much power as the battlefield.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF BROTHERHOOD

Brotherhood is the core of the Order of Kaan, so it should perhaps not be a surprise that such an ideal is given its own place within its structure. Yet of course, the question is what form this takes. What does it mean to have a Foundation of Brotherhood?

It is not as great a mystery as you suspect.

This Foundation has an ultimately simple mission: to ensure that the Brotherhood is and remains unbreakable. It is to ensure that only those worthy are permitted entry into their sacred ranks. It is to prevent the weak-minded and easily-swayed from coming to undermine them. It is to weed out the spies and traitors.

It is to prevent another Bane.

No one comes to the Order of Kaan, without going through the Foundation of Brotherhood.

As stated previously, this Order is somewhat unique in that it is not easy to join it. Many Orders are actively looking to convert those to their cause, and are confident enough in their philosophy and structure to risk the possibility that the new recruit may leave or even turn on them. The Order of Kaan does not take this risk, because it believes it cannot afford to take this risk.

Which, one cannot blame them, one such traitor wiped them out once before.

However, this makes the process more difficult and elongated. A member of this Foundation will meet with each person who is interested in joining them, and conduct extensive interviews. You will answer any question they ask, or you will be asked to leave. You will tell them your past, your motivations, your feelings, your politics, your philosophy, you will tell them anything they wish to know.

No, do not fear sharing. They keep what they hear in confidence.

What matters is that you trust. For if you show you are willing to trust them with your secrets, desires, and ambitions, then they will know they can trust you. No, there are no hidden blackmail schemes taking place here, there is no deception, for the Brotherhood cannot afford such games. Nor will they share with any others.

But knowing is only part of the requirement.

This Foundation is responsible for designing and administering the tests of Brotherhood. The final tests they give the new acolytes and initiates. They do not keep this a secret. You know you are going to be tested, and your loyalty to your brothers and sisters put on the line. You are prepared, for after weeks of training, you will sacrifice and suffer for the friends you have bonded with.

But here is a question, reader, would you sacrifice for a brother you have never met? Would you protect him or allow yourself to suffer for one you do not know?

Ponder on that.

If the Tests of Brotherhood were so simple, then nearly two-thirds of initiates wouldn’t fail them. Keep that in mind when you weigh your decisions.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF COMMAND

In every single war, there must be one who leads the charge, or directs the soldiers. For an army without leadership is one that will soon disintegrate, one without direction is one which will achieve nothing, one without vision is one which is incapable of true success. War is the ultimate forge; it is the ultimate test, and from war, great men emerge.

The Foundation of Command is also born from this.

It is this Foundation that is responsible for leading all of the soldiers and Sith of the Order of Kaan into battles. They are the strategists, generals, and other equivalents who direct the overall strategy of the conflict – from the highest levels to the trenches of tactical warfare. And among this Foundation, there is almost no distinction in rank, as is the tradition of the Foundation, merely different roles.

There are three different roles that Sith can fulfill in the Foundation of Command, and each of them can only find themselves as part of this Foundation if they demonstrate exceptional skill or capability. One must distinguish themselves; they must be born in the fires of war to even be considered for a position here.

In this way, the exceptional are elevated to peers worthy of their status, and those beneath them know all who command them have proven themselves beyond all doubt.

The first are the Lords of War, or often simply shortened to the Kaan Warlords, who lead the battalions, squads, and other field operations directly. If there is a Sith from the Order whom one is most likely to encounter on the field of battle, it is them. Lethal, dangerous, and distinct, they are the elite of Kaan’s warriors, and should be treated with due respect.

The Black Fleet is the naval equivalent of this, and while there are fewer of these Sith, they have honed both their flight skills and command of the Force to a degree that is rarely seen. They command the Order’s small, but lethal fleet. Underestimating the Kaan strike forces comes at your own risk – as there is always at least one Sith commanding them.

Finally, there are the Lord-Commanders, the principal strategists of the Foundation of Command. As one might expect, they also work closely with the Foundation of War, but are explicitly focused on the grand strategy of a conflict. It is the Lord-Commanders who plan the campaigns, assign the Lords and soldiers, and sign off on the final plans.

They are the brains of the Foundation – but make no mistake, each Lord-Commander is a powerful Sith in their own right.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF WAR

It is not easy, reader, to win a war.

It is not easy to run one.

War is not easy.

Especially if one rules over others.

It is easy to convince those aligned to you, or small groups to take up arms for a cause. It is easy to make the decision to go to war. But that is where the ease stops, for war is not easy, and what is especially difficult is making sure everything is prepared for such a decision.

This is the purpose of the Foundation of War.

It is straightforward in a way. It is the Sith Foundation which is responsible for making sure that every part of the Dominion and Order itself is prepared for war. It is they who conduct training exercises, snap drills, simulations, and raids and conquests. It is they who hold the whip, and ensure that the Dominion is alert and with their weapons ready.

The Dominion is never in a time of low mobilization – and the Foundation of War ensures it stays that way. Sith from this Foundation are seeded throughout the Dominion and have representatives to the other Foundations as well – in particular, the Foundations of Blades, Shadows, Command, Industry, and Force.

Only the most elite of Sith, who have distinguished themselves above all others – they have years of experience. It is they who give ultimate direction to the war machine that is the Sith Dominion, and finalize the war plans put together by the Lord-Commanders.

They are the purest expression of the ultimate mission of the Dominion – and perhaps the Order of Kaan itself.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE FORCE

The Sith of the Order of Lord Kaan may not possess the most sophisticated or intricate knowledge of the Force – but that does not mean they eschew its more esoteric qualities. While it is true that the majority of their Sith utilize the Force in more mundane ways, there are a small number who have devoted themselves to the study of the Force – and its application to war.

These are the Sorcerers, those who wear the black and silver robes of the Foundation of the Force. They are scholars and warriors both, for all that they learn and master, they apply. Unlike other Sith, what they can do is impossible to simply categorize, for each one is unique in some way.

Some are able to conjure storms of lightning and raze battlefields to ash. Others have taken to the telepathic arts, and are able to break even the strongest minds on the field of battle. Some have taken to Sith sorcery, and the unorthodox possibility that provides. There is even one who has mastered the obscure art of Battle Meditation.

Do not worry, reader, we will cover this curious figure in detail shortly.

The ultimate point is that one cannot simply predict what a Sorcerer is capable of, or what they truly know. Many have tried to discern this from afar, and many have paid the price. The Force is an ocean with many, many possibilities in store. To face one of this Foundation is to face a master of this power.

Would thou take such a chance, reader?

ON THE FOUNDATION OF SITH

When all is said and done, reader, what do you think the Order of Kaan considers themselves? Warriors? Successors? Champions? Rulers? All of these things in some form, yes. But that is not the word that matters. All of those words pale in comparison to one.

Sith.

They are Sith, and more importantly, they are the final incarnation of Sith. Only Darth Krayt’s One Sith and Bane’s Rule of Two follow Kaan’s formation. They consider Krayt’s philosophy to be a failed and pale imitation of Kaan’s original philosophy, and it need not be said what they think of the Rule of Two at this point.

They see themselves as the culmination of thousands of years of conquest, rule, betrayal, and infighting. The final, perfect, incarnation of what the Sith should be – by ironically modeling themselves on the Jedi, and marrying it with certain Sith tenants. But do not dare call them anything but Sith, for they accept nothing else.

The Foundation of Sith is, one might consider, one of the capstones of the Order of Kaan. It is the Foundation where the great questions are answered, where the most faithful to the philosophy actively monitor, debate, and refine their current doctrine. Their reach extends throughout the other Foundations, for it is they who ultimately decide the philosophical direction of the Order.

It is also the Foundation that primarily interacts with the other Orders in the Collective. The leader of this foundation is the one who sits upon the Sith Council, and represents the Order. For the Sith of the Order of Kaan are their responsibility, and what they do touches all.

There are few Foundations that are capable of making substantive changes, but this is one of them, and it is for that reason that it is considered perhaps the most influential Foundation in the Order.

ON THE FOUNDATION OF RULE

What comes after war? What comes after victory? What comes after?

Or perhaps a different question.

What does the Order desire?

No, it is not to war. War is inevitable, and it must be prepared for, this is true. But one who only cares about waging war will exhaust himself. No, the Order of Kaan is not simply interested in waging war. Their ultimate, final goal is a simple thing.

To rule.

Now they rule over a system. Soon, they will rule over a dozen. One day a hundred. Soon it will become an empire. One day they may control a tenth of the galaxy. Then a third. Then half. Then all of it.

But they rule all the same.

If the Foundation of Sith determines the ultimate direction of the Order of Kaan, it is the Foundation of Rule that is the Sith Dominion’s equivalent. It is this Foundation that ultimately is the force that rules over the Dominion, and exercises complete control over the direction it is permitted to take.

It is they who draft laws, establish protocols, and create standards. It can be considered an administration, if one managed entirely by Sith. Governorships, administrators, those in power in the Dominion are Sith, and they ultimately answer to the Foundation of Rule. Within, there is the eternal debate of how best to rule over a people.

There has been much debate, experimentation, and curiosity and these Sith have learned to wield power over a helpless population. They have found it necessary to experiment, for they intend to build something that lasts for a thousand years and beyond – and they do not need the failed visions of Palpatine and Snoke to do so.

The foundation was laid by Kaan.

They will see it through to the end.

ON FORSWORN TITLES

While it has not been outright stated, you have no doubt noticed something curious, reader. That the title of ‘Darth’ is wholly absent from any figures of note, and indeed has not been mentioned at all in reference to Skere Kaan, the Brotherhood of Darkness, or any of the Order of Lord Kaan – the name itself highlights this.

Those familiar with Kaan and the Brotherhood know that Kaan had a disdain for the title of Darth, and banned it from use, considering it a title of supremacy that Sith used to lord over others. By abolishing it in favor of the more neutral ‘Lord,’ it was yet another method he used to subtly lessen the divisions between the Sith.

Now, many of the Order of Kaan do not hold this same disdain for the title, nor really consider it especially important considering its widespread use in other Orders. Yet there has not been a single member who has ever taken the title of Darth for themselves, which is out of respect for Lord Kaan’s declaration.

They do not ascribe much importance to those titles regardless, as to call someone a Lord or Darth says little about them specifically, whereas the title following their name denotes who and what they are, and thus, significantly more importance is impressed onto that. They do not employ the feminine variant of the Lord honorific either, and are curiously resistant to those who have suggested it.

All Sith in the Dominion are Lords, no more, and no less. It may not be the most imposing or impressive title – but it is one which marks them as distinct among the Sith Orders, and so they will not look kindly on those making suggestions or attempting to force adoption of more ‘traditional’ Sith titles.

And, reader, do remember this. It does not make a good impression among the women of their Order if you cannot even speak their title correctly.

Consider it a piece of useful advice.

ON THE COUNCIL OF THE SITH DOMINION

As is with other Orders, there is a Council to lead them.

The Council of the Sith Dominion is hopefully a self-explanatory moniker. It is composed of the heads or leaders of all of the Dominion Foundations who take part in what is effectively the most powerful and important body in the Order of Kaan and the Sith Dominion it rules. Unlike most such Councils, this one does not have a distinct executive leader.

The purpose of it is not so much for making overarching decisions, but communicating what each Foundation is doing, and if they require support, resources, or funding – or to acquire updates from other Foundations on projects or operations. The Foundations work with each other outside of such meetings, of course, but these are not shared as often with the wider Order.

This is a body where all members are equal, and should it come to making a decision, votes take place. Ties are decided by calling in a respected subordinate from the Foundation who is most affected by the decision being made, or voluntary abstentions if such a person is not available. While there is no leader, it is the Lord of the Brotherhood who chairs the meetings, which always take place in the Chambers of the Lord of the Sith Dominion.

Notably, the Council of the Sith Dominion is regarded as one of the most efficient councils, one which rarely experiences issues or debate. This is largely attributed to the fact that oftentimes the Foundations work closely with each other so regularly that major issues are simply resolved before Council meetings take place.

While I would enjoy giving a history of all sitting members of this Council, there are only a few who I believe are truly necessary to know – all of whom sit upon the Capstone Foundations and who are also the founders of the Order of Kaan.

ON CHORYYAS, LORD-IMPERATOR OF THE HIGH WAR

There are many warriors in the Order of Kaan. There are many Blademasters, Marauders, and Juggernauts who are skilled and powerful in their own right. There are notable Warlords, Lord-Commanders, and of course, those in the Black Fleet.

But there is only ever one ‘Lord-Imperator,’ the ultimate pinnacle of what it means to be a warrior in this Order. Violence incarnate, strategy embodied; one who can encompass the apex of the ‘High War’ – the concept of dedication to the art of war in mind, body, and soul. That is what one must be to be considered the Lord-Imperator, and subsequently command the Foundation of War.

One could find few better than Choryyas.

Wookiee Force-users are rare, but not unheard of – and Choryyas is one that is old. Old enough that he remembers the Galactic Empire, where he was first captured and enslaved by the Empire. One would think he would escape by using the Force. He did not, he escaped by tearing the limbs off an Imperial officer and then the Stormtroopers that came to stop him – shrugging off stun blasts and blaster bolts.

He was a member of one of the more violent Rebel cells, ones which were brutal in their targeting of Imperial military and civilians alike. Choryyas did not care, of course, they were complicit in the continuation of an Empire that had enslaved him and his people. And he fought until the Empire collapsed.

His Force-sensitivity was discovered much later, by the Jedi of Luke Skywalker’s Order. They brought him in to be trained, allowing him to awaken his nascent talent. However, he soon found that he could not accept the false peace and tolerance that the Jedi preached – for this was before the Jedi had reformed into something more pragmatic.

Though it did not matter, for Choryyas could not tolerate peace with the Fellan Imperium. He had fought to see the Empire destroyed in all its forms, and this led to his eventual falling out with the Jedi. Though his training was incomplete, he knew enough to begin training himself.

And so, he did in the only way he knew how.

Through battle.

There are stories, rumors if you will, of a wookiee vigilante, bounty hunter, or gladiator depending on who you ask, traveling the galaxy. Sometimes he can be hired, sometimes he volunteers, other times he is set on his mission. Perhaps all of these are true, but what matters is that for several centuries, Choryyas wandered the galaxy.

He became a champion in fighting pits across the Outer Rim, which allowed him to get close to slaving hutts he eventually butchered. He has volunteered without pay to protect starships known to be ambushed by trandoshan pirates. Some even say he fought for the First Order against the Fellan Imperium, though not even the Order of Snoke knows if this is true or not.

And as the years passed, he grew more dangerous, more intelligent, and more cold. The berserker rage that had once consumed him had been honed to a fine edge. His blades and the Force sang in harmony as he cut through his enemies. Yet he never found himself satisfied, until he found his way to us.

Here he found the last piece to the power he sought. In Zarya, he found a friend and kindred spirit. In the Order of Kaan, he found a purpose and belonging. And perhaps that was what he was ultimately seeking, as he has shown no signs of moving on or leaving.

His black fur has tips of gray, but while he is certainly no youngling, his days of battle are far from over, and he is impossible to miss on the battlefield. While he had adopted, or I should say, pioneered what has become the Juggernaut-style, he is unique in that he does not wield a lightsaber.

Instead, he carries one of two primary weapons. One is a beskar-forged greatsword nearly his own length. Impossible to wield by any ordinary person, the Force gives him the strength to brandish it almost effortlessly as he dampens his fur with the blood of his enemies. His other weapon is a large warhammer which he employs to great delight against those who believe heavier armor protects them.

Further augmenting his martial prowess are two handheld maces he has strapped to him, one to his chest, and one to his waist. The flanged weapons are quite a terrifying sight to behold in the hands of a snarling wookiee, and it is not difficult to know when Choryyas has arrived on a battlefield.

You merely have to follow the carnage.

ON AZOV, LORD OF THE ESOTERIC FORCE

Let us talk of a rather curious figure.

Lord Azov is, if one is simply looking at his position, initially impressive, if not especially prominent. One of the Sorcerers of the Foundation of the Force, he is its nominal head, and believed to be its most powerful practitioner. There are certain expectations one has when meeting one who bears such a title, but inevitably, they are broken when one sees him for the first time.

You are unlikely to have seen his species before. They are small creatures, usually barely a third of a meter in height. Their limbs are stubby, their ears are long, and they are aliens who appear wholly unimpressive at first glance. This one’s skin is a ruddy orange, and white wisps of hair cover his wrinkled head.

And yet, when these little creatures show themselves, the galaxy takes notice.

If one looks throughout all of recorded history, they would be fortunate to find more than a half-dozen examples of these creatures. Many times, they joined the Jedi. More recently, some have found themselves with the Mandalorians. No one knows where they come from, or even the name of their species. And none of them – to my knowledge – have ever found their way to the Sith.

That is, until now.

Azov did not come from the Jedi. He simply found his way to us and all could sense his power. He possessed a raw talent for the deepest mysteries of the Force, and even possessed a knowledge of the rare art of Battle Meditation – which he claims, a joke many are sure, he learned from the spirit of Bastila Shan.

A sense of humor, he has.

When he met Zarya, and she conceived of the idea of an Order based around Lord Kaan, Azov supported her, and said he would help guide however he could. No one knows his exact reasoning for joining her so quickly, or indeed what his ultimate motivations are. Nonetheless, he was vital in establishing the Foundation of the Force, and the Sorcerers it would produce.

And so, he studied deeper.

Soon, it became clear where his talent lay, it was not in something like Battle Meditation, but the difficult and powerful art of Sith sorcery itself. Those who master the art have commented on how quickly Azov learned it, and how dangerously he can employ it. He is not a flashy fighter; indeed, he often moves slowly, and does not even possess a lightsaber.

Yet with a few waves of his stubby hands and the incantations that follow, he can break armies. He can worm his way into the minds of the strong. I suspect he learned Sith sorcery because he found it ironic – Bane famously knew that sorcery was his weakness, and it was ultimately sorcery which was his undoing.

I believe this little alien could learn whatever he puts his mind to, and he chose this specifically for the poetic irony.

And no matter this creature’s true power or motivations – it is something I can only respect.

ON ZARYA, LORD OF THE BROTHERHOOD

If there is a face of the Order of Kaan, it is perhaps the woman who founded it.

She is a striking and imposing figure for those who see her for the first time. She wears her armor that she earned from the Jedi Sentinels, though now colored in the black and silver of the Sith. Flawless brown skin and flowing black hair braided in the style of the Mandalorian warriors, she is abnormally tall for a human female, and subsequently stands above many of her kin.

Twin lightsabers hang at her waist, the blue crystals having long since been replaced with ones of amethyst. She presents the image of a regal, commanding figure. Perhaps a stern parent or mother, but clearly someone who is committed and determined to see her mission fulfilled to the end.

Let us back up a bit.

It is known that Zarya was a Jedi Master, within the Sphere of the Militant Order. She eventually became one of the Sentinels – Jedi warriors who carved their own paths of destruction. Her talent was recognized, and she, together with another Jedi at the time, were promoted to the Fist of the Order – the elite of the Militant Order.

That Jedi in question was a certain Zevro Shartan, who readers may know is a prominent figure in the Sphere of the Militant Order. Some would say it is inevitable he becomes the next Battlemaster.

They were friends, and they shared many similar outlooks and philosophies. They shared a disdain for the criminals and dissidents that thrived in the Outer Rim, and showed no mercy or tolerance to their enemies. Yet as time progressed, Zarya grew disillusioned with the inherent lie that is the Galactic Alliance. She saw it for the sham that it was, as while they were fighting for nothing in the Outer Rim putting down petty criminals, the criminals in the Alliance grew fat and wealthy.

Shartan, it appeared, was content to tolerate this. After all, what were they to do? What option did they have? Ah, and Zarya had radical ideas, ones that Shartan dismissed outright. They were defenders of the Alliance, and no matter what, their mission had to be upheld. Zarya grew to disagree, and the rift between friends opened and became irreconcilable.

Zarya eventually left the Jedi of her own accord, turning her back on a career that promised power, influence, and opportunity. Yet she was disgusted with what she saw, and would not take part in it merely for her own gain, or the false illusion that what she did mattered. She would find a new mission, a new purpose.

And she eventually did.

She did not join the Sith because she particularly agreed with or liked us. Indeed, I suspect she will shed no tears the day when our mission is complete and the Collective’s purpose has been fulfilled. But it did not matter, because when she came here, the inkling of an idea took root, and when she learned of Lord Kaan, the Brotherhood, and the New Sith Wars, she knew what she must do.

Today, she leads the Foundation of the Sith, but all know her as the ‘Founder.’ The one to whom the Order owes much, for she has given them mission, meaning, and family. She is technically not above her brethren on the Dominion Council, but they still look to her for guidance and offer her respect.

And, of course, she speaks for the Order of Kaan on the High Council of the Sith Collective, and it seems unlikely another will replace her in her lifetime.

Never had she thought she would find answers in the Sith, but she could not deny the evidence before her eyes. Had she still believed in such things, she would have said the Force guided her to this point. But she was Sith, and she was going to build her solution to the question she had posed to Shartan many years ago.

What to do?

She is Sith, but considers the Order she, together with these three other figures, built to be the final, ideal, evolution of the Jedi Order. One where the useless and pointless systems of bureaucracy and government have been purged. Where the Jedi are no longer slavishly devoted to the protection of useless concepts like democracy and capital.

It is an Order united in mission, in brotherhood, in meaning. It is an Order with the trivialities torn out and replaced with purpose. Zarya has long since given up on the possibility of peace. There can be no coexistence with the Alliance, the Imperium, the Cartels, the criminals, the politicians, the corrupt, or the evil.

There is only one solution.

They must burn the galaxy to cinders, and begin again – and this time, do it right.

ON ALIOC’HRYSIL’ALORA, LORD OF THE SITH DOMINION

Chiss names are wonderful, are they not?

Chrysila is quite an intriguing figure, though of course, I would not be speaking of her if she were not. I am unsure, in fact, what element of curiosity to focus on first. Be it her age, her past, or her role. No doubt she would look with disapproval at my hesitation, but that is merely part of her charm.

Well, in order then.

Chrysila is old. Very old for a chiss. Over a century in total. She is, ironically, well-known among the families of Csilla, and throughout the Ascendancy. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she never joined the Jedi Order, as her family did not wish it, and instead enrolled her in Ascendancy Battalion Seventeen – which, for those unfamiliar with chiss conventions, is where they place their Force-sensitives.

To say the chiss treat their Force-users with questionable care is an understatement. The chiss distrust the Force, they are even wary of harnessing it, and for such practical people, they possess odd and esoteric beliefs about the Force, such as believing it has a will of its own – and those who touch it are influenced.

Ascendancy Battalion Seventeen is less a combat battalion, and more of a containment one. All members of it are heavily scrutinized, and their training is intentionally limited to reduce the danger they pose to the Ascendancy. The students do not complain, of course, as the chiss are conditioned to put the Ascendancy before all else – including themselves.

But of course, such treatment eventually breeds resentment.

All members of Ascendancy Battalion Seventeen, and, in fact, all chiss Force-sensitives, are given the opportunity to have themselves severed from the Force. After several years in Ascendancy Battalion Seventeen, many take it, wishing to actually serve the Ascendancy instead of the gilded cage they are a part of.

Chrysila never did this. For eighty-four years she diligently served in Ascendancy Battalion Seventeen. She served longer than any chiss had served before, and was eventually given ‘command’ of the Battalion, for what little worth that was. She actually served long enough to be deployed in combat a few times, where she performed admirably and granted the Ascendancy several important victories.

But back to the cage she went.

She was not idle during her time in the Battalion. She kept up on all of the developments, movements, and matters of the Chiss Ascendancy, from political aspects to military decisions, she attempted to offer her own advice – because she had a very, very rare gift – the gift of foresight.

I’ll note that she never explicitly told them, likely because such a capability is an executable offense in the Ascendancy.

Eventually, upon realizing that they were not listening to her, and would ignore her even if she was right, she gave up and became the silent supporter they always wanted. She became a fixture – so long was she there that the Force-blind chiss assigned to Ascendancy Battalion Seventeen grew lax. For why would they doubt her loyalty?

Until one day, they awoke to find her gone.

The Ascendancy initiated a hunt for her, and even brought the Imperium to assist, while asking the Jedi to keep a lookout for a woman of her description. Yet over half a year of searching turned up nothing. Chrysila had effectively disappeared off the face of the galaxy.

She found her way to us. The Force showed her where to go, and she had made her decision. She had lived a stunted, chained, and soulless life – and now she was going to spend what years she had left making sure she left an impact. It is likely this foresight drew her to Zarya, and both women became good friends.

Chrysila was not a savant, nor was she skilled with the blade – but she had decades of experience, she had power, and even with the chiss stifling her potential, she had a strong foundation, and had often kept herself busy by reading various Force techniques and theories which the chiss had not bothered to hide from her, knowing she could never employ them.

Something she would disprove with time.

When Zarya began conceptualizing the Order of Kaan, it was Chrysila who told her to pursue it, knowing that Lady Vathila would acquiesce – and that many would flock to it. Together, she, Zarya, Azov, and Choryyas built what would become the Order of Lord Kaan – and the Sith Dominion. Each of them took one role in the Capstone of the Foundations, and Chrysila took the Foundation of Rule.

It was one Zarya wanted her to take, and one Chrysila found fitting for herself. It was not simply because she had the gift of foresight, but because she had spent a century closely observing the movements and actions of the Chiss Ascendancy, as well as those of other governments. And now there was no one who would ignore her.

And so, together with her brothers and sisters, she has built the Dominion. Something that is not wholly her vision, but certainly influenced by her. She has long grown disenchanted with the systems and hands-off rule of the Ascendancy, and has no intention of emulating it again.

So, she remains the final authority over the Dominion. She is not an empress or queen, but merely the Lord of the Sith Dominion; one of power and authority; one who provides the vision for the Order’s inevitable rule. And her vision stretches far indeed.

She does not know if she will yet live to see their return to the galaxy, but she takes solace in the fact that when it does, and when the Dominion marches into the galaxy, led by the Order of Kaan, she knows that the Ascendancy will look upon what she has created, and they will fear.

And they will fear, because they will know it was her.

ON RELATIONS WITH THE SITH ORDERS

It has been noted several times before that the Order of Kaan is, compared to their colleagues in the Collective, very mistrustful and insular. They view outsiders with suspicion and paranoia – but make no mistake, this is not some crippling fear or imposed isolation. Indeed, of all those who one might fear of betrayal, it is the Order of Kaan who you can trust to watch your back and keep their knives at bay.

Of course, all of our knives remain at bay, but I digress.

To this end, it is important to understand who such an Order works closest with. It has already been said that the Order of Marka Ragnos is the one Order whom they instill a large amount of trust in, and it is known that Ragnos considers them close allies of his own – and a contingency should his warriors be insufficient in the face of an insurrection.

Beyond Ragnos, it becomes complicated.

The Order maintains notably cordial relations with the Order of Darth Krayt, which we attribute to the fact that there are certain similarities in the function of their Orders, and that several influential members came from the Order of Krayt. They do not trust Krayt, but they are more comfortable working with them than others.

They also have some voluntary ties with the Order of Darth Revan, and they share some common ground in the knowledge that both of their patrons were betrayed by those who were close to them – the difference being Revan survived his assassination attempt, while Kaan did exactly what Bane wanted him to.

Relations between them and the Order of Supreme Leader Snoke are rather poor, to the surprise of some. Yet after reading this, I presume you can determine the issue. There are relatively few Force-users in the Order of Snoke, and their view on the Force-blind could not be more different. As a result, the Order of Kaan is not particularly impressed with their legions and machines, as they see few true sources of power among them.

The remaining Orders they simply avoid unnecessary relations with, or actively disdain – any Sith connected to the Rule of Two they are wary of, particularly the Orders of Darth Plagueis and Emperor Palpatine, or Sith who often participated in self-destructive infighting. Emperor Vitiate falls under this category, and considering Darth Traya was known as the ‘Queen of Betrayal,’ I imagine you understand why the Order of Kaan has avoided cultivating strong ties with the Order that bears her name.

Perhaps one day relations across all of the Collective will be improved, because as it stands, the Order of Kaan has notably few allies – and they know that someday, they might need some. If so, they appear to be in no rush to find them – or are simply incapable of overcoming their distrust of other Sith.

CONCLUSION

And here we reach the end. Another piece of history shared, another possibility opened, another chapter complete.

Have you continued to this part, reader? Or did you come here first out of curiosity, or have you made your choice and are simply reading for your pleasure or to expand your knowledge? I wonder what the one reading these words thinks and feels as they do so, as I painstakingly detail the internal workings of one part of our Collective.

Do you read these words and feel something light up inside you; a flick of a switch, an acute understanding that this is where I belong? Or is this merely interesting knowledge, or, conversely, simply boring?

I do not know, and perhaps that is for the best. Yet I do wonder.

I write this here because I find such a person reacting to what I wrote here so fascinating. It is my duty to accurately convey the mission and philosophies of each Order, yet this was one where I had particular trouble keeping my thoughts to myself. I do not judge, but I do dispute, and there is little in this Order I can find that would call to me.

Maybe that’s why I find this Order more fascinating than perhaps I should. It is a unique thing within our Collective, and is a testament to the sheer breadth of our kind; how far our philosophies can stretch – so much so that it can seem alien to a Sith like me. Something that is Sith, and yet so clearly inspired by that which is not Sith.

Can you imagine the intellectual scope of the Jedi even coming close to matching this? No, and that is why this Order is a beautiful thing. It is a path for those who come from histories of light, yet have not truly committed to the dark yet. It is an example of how our kind can take inspiration from the enemy, and reflect it back upon the galaxy.

Most importantly, I see this as a promise. A promise that our Lady made to the Sith – that each would be given the opportunity to carve their own path within the Collective. There would be no restrictions, no forbidden knowledge, no linear paths where all must be submissive to a single leader.

The Order of Lord Kaan stands as testament to this promise.

What mark will they make on the galaxy? Will they be able to fulfill Lord Kaan’s vision where he could not? Is it a mission that calls to you, or that you wish to take part in? Do not let me, or anyone else stop you, reader. My role is merely to present the paths before you.

Your destiny is yours to claim.

Do not hesitate to seize it.

Chapter Text

SotP Addenda – Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

THE ORDER OF DARTH NOX

ON THE ERASURE OF LEGACY

And now, reader, let us explore something different.

We come to the Order of Darth Nox.

How much do you know of this particular Sith Lord?

Be honest. There is no shame for true ignorance, but I reserve scorn for those who pretend otherwise.

So speak.

What do you know?

Perhaps you feel confused right now, especially if you lack knowledge of Darth Nox, and wonder why I highlight your ignorance. I highlight it because there is a reason your knowledge is lacking.

What differentiates Nox from the myriad of Sith legends? For her power was equivalent to Sith like Traya and Kaan. Her knowledge could stand with the greatest masters of the esoteric such as Palpatine or Plagueis. Her leadership and charisma were comparable to Revan and Snoke.

Oh, you believe I exaggerate? That I would embellish the prowess of the woman who rallied the galaxy against the Eternal Empire? The same polity which brought both the Old Republic and Sith Empire low?

I wonder if you even know what I reference.

In good time. All you need know, reader, is that despite these feats, she is forgotten.

Forgotten by Jedi.

Forgotten by Sith.

Forgotten by the galaxy itself.

Why?

Consider for a moment the question. Consider why someone like this would be forgotten.

Yes, the answer should emerge now.

Invoke the second, critical question.

Was she forgotten… or erased?

It is understandable why the Jedi would have wished her to fade. She was Sith. Fully, brilliantly, unapologetically Sith. It was a Sith who saved the galaxy from perfidious Zakuul. It was a Sith to whom Jedi and Republican forces answered.

For a brief time, they acknowledged this. But as the Dark Age dragged on for its centuries, new myths were written, new legends arose, and new lies were created that banished Darth Nox to a footnote, at best.

I blame not the Jedi for doing this. It is in their nature.

I am less forgiving for our kind who did the same thing.

Sith who buried the truth out of jealousy and pride; those who found her philosophies, compromises, and actions during the war more repulsive than their existing state of humiliation. Leeches and vultures eager to pick apart the corpse of one who eclipsed them even in death.

They knew the truth, and elected to hide it. For in Darth Nox, we see a proof of victory that Lady Vathila has also seen. A galaxy ruled by the Sith, guided and directed by the darkness, where even Jedi knew their place.

The ignorant might say that it was not until Emperor Palpatine that the Sith ruled the galaxy.

Nox achieved it first – if only for a brief time, in circumstances that will likely never be replicated. Yet the theory was proven, and put into practice.

We now face a crossroads with this truth – do we turn away from the lessons of Nox out of jealousy, dismissing them as irreplicable? Or do we learn and see how this woman forged a legacy so potent, so strong, so decisive that nearly all sought to purge it from galactic memory?

You are here, reader. I think we know what you will say.

But while the galaxy forgot Nox, there were those who did not.

These were her companions. Her disciples. Her subjects. Jedi, Sith, citizens of Republic and Imperial origin, criminals and smugglers, spies and soldiers. Those who had been united under the singular, dominant leadership of this woman.

This is the Order of Darth Nox.

Though I must be honest, reader, this is something of a misnomer, for this Order is not one in the traditional sense – ironic, as it was only the fourth to join our Collective.

Other Orders possess certain structures to them; there are expectations and conditioning that I have not attempted to dissuade you from falling into. The Order of Darth Nox is not an organization, a state, or even a unified structure as you are familiar with. It is something unorthodox, unique, and in many ways, alien to our modern society.

It is an amalgamation of disparate demographics, cultures, and species that have evolved, merged, diverged, and created a civilization unlike any in the galaxy, let alone amongst the Sith. On the twin worlds of Dromund Kaas and Dromund Fels, the direct descendants of Darth Nox rule over billions.

Together with this lineage, so too do the descendants of six of the closest disciples of Darth Nox assist in this arduous task. Bloodlines that have remained unbroken for millennia – and whose branches have sprouted myriads more noble houses that further assist in the rule of these worlds.

Drellik.

Xalek.

Zavros.

Revel.

Shan.

Beniko.

These are the disciples of Darth Nox. Do any of these names sound familiar to you? The learned should recognize at least one of them.

They are a reflection of the galaxy that Nox briefly forged. Each of these families comes from a distinctly different background. Sith. Pirates. Spies. Assassins. Archeologists. Jedi. Yet all of them found their way to Nox, and became devoted to her and her vision for the galaxy. And when she died, it fell to them to continue this legacy.

The Order of Nox may have the trappings of a modern state, even one ruled by an elite. But make no mistake – it is a complex, alien, labyrinth of personalities, histories, and dynamics that comprise an aristocracy that grew from the harrowing years of the Dark Age.

A civilization that was forced to adapt… or die like countless others from that time. The legacies of Nox and her disciples endure – but they have long since evolved beyond what their forebears created.

Is your curiosity piqued? I hope so.

Let us learn more.

ON PERSISTENCE AND ENDURANCE

What words might be used to best describe the Order of Darth Nox?

Powerful? Contradictory? Ambitious? Insular? Alien?

There’s a compelling argument for each of these words. Yet do any of them properly describe the Order’s dynamics effectively? I would argue not – simply because each holds a complexity that overlooks the Order’s clearest characteristic, one that is almost taken for granted.

Persistence.

There were many worlds, civilizations, and peoples who found themselves isolated and stranded in the Dark Age; trapped in the ruins of cities laid waste by orbital bombardment. Disasters of unfathomable scale. Countless refugees. Starvation. Mass crime. Violence. Shortages of every possible need.

We live in an age of relative prosperity. One can be poor, but few will experience the feeling of exposure to snowstorms that leave fields of frozen corpses in their wake. One might experience hunger, but will not understand a craving so acute that it drives them to become animals.

Who would you kill to secure something so trivial as your next meal? A stranger? A neighbor?

A silly question.

What about your sibling? Your best friend? Your lover?

A bit more thought-provoking, no? There may not be enough for everyone.

What would you do, as those you know descend into madness? As parents eat their children?

Consider yourself fortunate that the Dark Age is behind us – and the galaxy has not experienced another. Yet this was the reality faced by countless worlds from every corner of the galaxy.

Nox was gone, and with her, the glue that held the coalition together.

Did they work together, or scheme against the other? Did they even have enough to support themselves? Did their leaders retain the strength and respect necessary to rule?

Some worlds and populations resolved these differences… most did not.

Dromund Kaas was one of the exceptions.

There were Republic soldiers, Imperial bureaucrats, surviving Jedi and Sith, and an entire Mandalorian clan. Nearly all factions of the coalition were represented on Dromund Kaas, and one could reasonably expect order to collapse within weeks.

Yet it did not.

The disciples of Nox made a promise to themselves and the world they found in their charge – they would not succumb to the division and fear that dominated the lessers of their brethren. They would survive this Dark Age, and forge something that Nox herself would respect.

By any means necessary.

Persistence, reader, is not some passive, innate trait one possesses. It is drive, it is resolve, it is action. It is to defy the natural expectation, and rise above it. To persist demands is to impose your will upon others – upon fate itself.

Nox’s disciples persisted.

Did you think that they survived through sheer luck? That there just so happened to be the right people, with the right ideas, at the right time?

I’m afraid fate is rarely so kind.

No, the birth of the Kaasian Nobility – as it would later become – came not through understanding, brotherhood, and compromise, but through coercion, subjugation, and blood. Those who threatened the tenuous stability were excised and made examples of. Plotters of all types were exposed and hunted. Insurgents and rebels were crushed.

The social fabric; the divergent and diverse histories and cultures of the people on this world; they fought against this alien amalgamation that was forming – but their efforts were rendered meaningless in the face of the iron persistence the disciples of Nox displayed.

All of the disciples were unified on this matter, and acted against any who sought to undermine them. In the end, their efforts were successful. Be it through fear, or simply because all enemies had been purged, the threat of upheaval was expelled – and the foundations for the new order could be laid down.

And through their persistence, came their survival.

In their later years, Nox’s disciples died wondering how long it would last, and if their descendants would possess the same resolve they did… if they could persist.

What would you say, reader, if I told you their fears were for naught, and they successfully forged an era of peace that lasted until the present?

Perhaps a simple test, but I must make sure you are paying some attention, no?

The plotters changed, the schemes became more sophisticated, the driving factors were no longer along simplistic tribal lines such as ‘Imperial,’ ‘Jedi,’ or ‘Sith.’ Instead, cliques and factors driven by native ideologies and beliefs arose. Yet they were enemies of the Order all the same – and they met the same fate.

For over three thousand years the families of the original disciples faced insurrection, treason, and rebellion and yet they did not break, they did not waver, they did not question. They acted as one, bound by the promise made in the name of Nox so long ago.

And their persistence ensured their survival.

One could say they now thrive.

If you take nothing else away from this section, let it be this – there are those in our Collective who hold the Order of Darth Nox in low regard. They consider them weak, soft, and unworthy of the prestige that comes with our Collective. They view them as a bastard hybrid of Sith and Jedi, incapable and unworthy of integrating with the pure Sith that they, of course, represent.

The ignorance. The arrogance.

Beware the words and thoughts of such people, reader. Alien the Order of Nox may be to Sith who are raised and taught in the traditional ways – but never mistake their warriors and scholars as weak, for to do so is to fall into the same trap so many others have before.

Because while their interests and aims have turned inward, what has always united them is an outside threat.

Take care.

If one wishes to poke the rancor, do not be surprised when it rends you asunder with frightening power, and iron resolve. The Order of Darth Nox persisted through the Dark Age.

This is not a feat to be taken lightly.

ON DARTH NOX, COUNCILOR OF THE SPHERE OF MYSTERIES

Now, let us speak of Darth Nox.

This is not her birth name, of course. Nox only earned her true name when she became someone who mattered within the Sith Empire.

Much of Nox’s life before her arrival to Korriban is known only to her, and perhaps those closest to her. All that is known, perhaps all that is relevant, is that she stepped foot on the sacred sands of Korriban not as a figure of promise, lineage, and bloodline – but as a slave.

Surprised? That a figure of such esteem and power came from such a low position?

I cannot blame you if you are. Rarely do people of such poor stock prove worthy of more than their station, but Nox proved the exception. Her affinity with the Force spared her from a life where she would be rightfully employed and disposed of – alone and forgotten. Yet Nox did not intend to suffer such a fate.

She knew she was worth more.

Her status as a slave was irrelevant to this. She understood better than most ‘proper’ Sith that the great are not constrained by such circumstances. They can claw their way to power if only they are ambitious enough. If they are worthy, it will be proven – whether they are born a slave or a lord.

Perhaps you wonder why she was a slave at all… does it matter?

Would it change who Nox was if she was a trophy of war? If she was the victim of Imperial politics? If it was a punishment for an unknown failure, and becoming Sith was her singular chance of redemption?

I do not believe it does.

It does not change the fundamental moral of Nox’s tale: those who are truly great will overcome any adversity.

No other Sith of her era better represents the fundamental purity of our people’s beliefs. She was bold and tenacious, intelligent and charming, cruel to her enemies and magnanimous to her followers. She was the epitome of what we could achieve, and the validation of thousands of years of teaching and history. A woman none could say had not earned her status through blood, sacrifice, and tears.

It is an unfortunate reality that she was one of the last who truly embodied what it means to be Sith. One who was proud, powerful, confident – who cared little for the opinions of her inferiors. One who never apologized for her superiority over them. One who was not conciliatory, or humble, or acted as if she was owed less than absolute obedience and fealty.

One who was truly Sith.

I have wondered why Nox in particular stands out; what she possesses that so many fall to her shadow. Perhaps it is her story, of coming from nothing, only to claw her way into becoming one of the most powerful Sith of her time. Perhaps it is her later life when she brought down a supposedly eternal empire. Yet I believe the answer is simpler than this.

Nox is a survivor – the last one standing, when all others fall.

But we get ahead of ourselves. Let us back up to her rise to power.

Nox’s rise through the ranks of the Sith was steady, yet unsurprising. She quickly threw off the shackles of slavery, becoming the apprentice of Darth Zash, a prominent and studied Sith Lord in the arts of sorcery and ritual.

Nox began making a name for herself in her service as she traveled the worlds of the Sith Empire. While hunting for artifacts and knowledge that Zash demanded, Nox simultaneously began integrating herself into the power structures and factions of the wider Sith Empire. She expertly and intelligently paired her own ambitions to the future of the Sith Empire as a whole.

She established relationships throughout the Sith military, Imperial Intelligence, and the bureaucracy as a whole – as well as courting up-and-coming Sith who sought to forward their own ambitions, and could be useful allies. As was said earlier, she had ambition, and she was already crafting a power base for her to leverage in the future.

Her ambitions came to a head eventually. Darth Zash attempted to kill Nox, fearing her Apprentice would soon surpass and kill her – a fear soon realized as Nox emerged victorious in the attempt.

That, reader, was the act that made many powerful people turn their attention to the young, ambitious, and powerful miraluka. Amongst them was Darth Thanaton of the Dark Council.

Thanaton had been aware of Nox from the moment she set foot on Korriban, as he was rivals with Darth Zash and wisely kept a close eye on her machinations. In Nox, he saw a similarity of interest and an equivalence of power, quickly deducing that if any seat on the Dark Council was to be challenged by Nox, it would be his.

Hardly a surprise. Nox’s ambitions were clear, it was simply a question of when and how she would attempt to supplant his position. Ultimately, it would come down to her leveraging a secret ability she’d discovered under Zash’s tutelage – the ability to harness the power of spirits.

Through rituals of blood and the Force, she was able to bind the spirits of powerful Sith and Jedi alike to her, allowing her to channel their power and augment herself in a way almost no others could.

This technique, known as ‘Force Walking,’ was an ancient Sith ritual that had many historical users who rose quickly to prominence – before falling just as quickly. The reason for this quickly becomes apparent, as power rarely comes without a price.

There is a limit to what the mind can handle, dear reader. Tell me, if you were to draw another’s spirit into your body; into your mind, could you handle the foreign presence? Could you handle two of them? More? Such is the dilemma faced by all Force Walkers. The greatest amongst them can only barely handle binding two spirits, any more and they are driven insane, or the raw power destroys their bodies in a fantastic explosion. Often, they can only maintain their power for a short time regardless, hence how quickly they appear to disappear from history.

Nox attempted to bind at least four spirits in such a manner before directly challenging Thanatos. An action that nearly killed her… and him. The attempt left her clinging to life, with her mind on the verge of madness – but as I said earlier, Nox was a survivor.

Survive she did.

The experience did not temper her, nor dissuade her, nor halt her ambitions. She continued expanding her base of loyalists until her network spanned the breadth of the Empire. Her knowledge of the Force was refined to a vibroblade’s edge. She learned from her mistakes and grew into a powerhouse to rival any in the Empire. All this, and the only thing standing in the way of her ambition was Darth Thanaton.

However, openly pursuing his downfall was now risky for two reasons. The first was because as a member of the Dark Council, Thanaton had immense resources at his disposal. Yet the second reason is far more important, because it limited Thanaton in a similar way. The dynamics of the Sith Empire itself had changed thanks to a certain individual who now enters Nox’s tale.

Emperor Jadus.

Much had changed in the Empire and the Sith itself during Nox’s rise. Ever since Jadus had emerged from his faked death – as worlds across the Empire burned because of his machinations – he had been remaking the empire in his image.

The consequences of Jadus’s ‘Eradication Day’ – which heralded his ascension – limited Nox’s ability to assert herself. Thanaton was not spared Jadus’s humbling – many of his acolytes were murdered, his allies punished, and his worlds crippled.

Jadus meant to bring what he saw as pointless infighting to an end – the power plays amongst Sith Lords were the first to draw his attention. As he was remaking Imperial society, he turned all his efforts towards war with the Republic. All of the internal plots of the Sith, including the Dark Council’s, entered a freeze where they were forced to be far more subtle, or stop entirely.

Else they risked Jadus’s wrath – and the Emperor showed little hesitation in executing any Sith who did not conform, regardless of station.

Thus, the feud between Nox and Thanaton was dangerous for both of them. Jadus had near-zero tolerance for such bloody traditions, even if his attention was focused on preparing for war against the Republic – and the Jedi.

Jadus was greatly resented among vast swathes of the Sith for this reason. However, few were willing – or capable – of directly challenging the self-proclaimed Emperor. Those who did were well-known across the Empire, as their brutal and humiliating punishments were broadcast galaxy-wide. Nonetheless, both Thanaton and Nox worked to prepare themselves for their inevitable clash.

Eventually, through ancient rituals lost to time, Nox managed to master her control over the spirits she’d bound – reclaiming her power and her sanity. Once more whole, she employed subterfuge to substantially weaken Thanaton’s base of power before initiating a direct challenge for his seat on the Dark Council. In earlier eras of the Sith Empire, this might have resulted in a direct power struggle – with Emperor Jadus ever-vigilant, there was only one avenue open to them.

An ancient tradition known as a ‘Kaggath.’

Thanaton challenged Nox to a Kaggath on Corellia following the Sith’s relatively bloodless conquest of the world. To the surprise of many, the contest was approved by Jadus, who simply expected them to fight each other in a ritual contest of strength.

Given what followed, it is unlikely Jadus understood exactly what a Kaggath entailed. In all likelihood, Jadus was making a political calculation intended to lessen the grumbling of traditional-minded Sith – while hopefully removing one of their loudest champions.

No matter Jadus’s reasoning, he quickly regretted giving his tacit approval once the Kaggath began. For the Kaggath was no mere duel – it was a war.

Neither participant held back against the other, each bringing everything in their powerbases to bear in the conflict. Armies, loyalists, lesser Sith, segments of the Imperial military allied to them. Every resource and ally and debt they could call upon came to Corellia – engaging in a contest of strength that would see the victor sit upon the Dark Council.

Entire swaths of the world were consumed in flame and blood – scars of their war still linger upon Corellia. Hundreds of thousands were left dead in their wake, and millions more might have expired were it not for Darth Decimus. Decimus was the Dark Councilor who had overseen the relatively bloodless conquest of Corellia, and it was he who brought a preliminary end to the contest, and forced Nox and Thanaton to settle their dispute in-person, before the Dark Council.

The Kaggath had broken the tenuous political situation on Corellia, and given new life to the Corellian resistance and their Republican backers. Corellia devolved into an attritional war front that consumed entire Imperial armies for years to come and is widely understood to have been a blunder that the Empire never truly recovered from.

In retrospect, perhaps Corellia was not the best place to host the Kaggath – though there are few in my opinion that would have been as worthy for a contest between two titans of the Sith. Alas, Jadus did not see it in such poetic terms, and Decimus’s compromise almost certainly saved both from being executed by the furious Emperor.

Both Nox and Thanaton agreed to hold a final duel before the Dark Council, and demonstrate once and for all who was stronger. There are ancient tomes in the Royal Library in Kaas City – books as thick as your leg – dedicated to this Kaggath and the final duel.

They speak of immense power that shook the very planet, of viscous hate that stained the very air, of a former slave casting down a great man and seizing all that was once his. This was the moment she earned her true name.

She was Darth Nox, Dark Councilor of the Sphere of Mysteries.

This moment fills me with no small amount of melancholy. Such was the true end of an era, for she was the last Sith to ascend to the Dark Council in such a way.

Darth Jadus banned the practice of the Kaggath following her ascension, and reasserted that any Sith using Imperial resources for power plays and infighting would be put to death. Nox was among the last of the traditional Sith, and the catalyst for the astonishing rate of Jadus’s purge of numerous hallowed traditions, and any who did not comply.

Nox had nonetheless succeeded, and now not only found herself a Dark Councilor, but also had unwittingly become the head of a political faction that had been evolving ever since Jadus began his rule.

While the Republic commanded the attention of the Sith, it did not mean the end of Sith politics. In the era following Nox’s ascension, there were three distinct strains of thought within the Sith that endured – all of which were opposed to each other in fundamental ways.

The first was Jadus’s philosophy that rode the line between pragmatism and utter radicalism. Much of it was contrary to Sith tradition – bordering upon the heretical. Notably, his legitimacy came from only a small number of Sith, but was widespread in the non-Sith population – especially amongst aliens.

He had the backing of Imperial Intelligence, and used them to great effect in removing troublesome agitators and keeping the populace in line. Finally, there was his own extensive power that had previously humbled the entire Dark Council, no slovenly emperor he.

The second was represented by a very unexpected source: Darth Vauner, the Emperor’s Wrath of Vitiate. His emergence directly challenged the supremacy of Jadus – though did not remove his hold completely. That is a different story, for a different time, but what is critical is that Vauner represented a certain idealism and conciliatory approach to many Sith ideas, some of which aligned with Jadus, but many did not.

He derived his own influence primarily from his position as Wrath – and with Vitiate’s authority, he was a thorn in the side of Jadus and Nox alike. He alone was responsible for carving out a certain kind of Sith philosophy that some whispered was heretical and aligned more with Jedi teachings.

Rumors and whispers that were curiously absent when the Emperor’s Wrath was present.

This left Nox to represent what had become an ostracized school of thought – the more traditional and conservative views of the Sith. It was composed of many senior Sith Lords who rankled at the reforms and changes Jadus and Vauner were instituting. It was enough for Nox to build a base of allies within the Dark Council – one strong enough that Jadus took it seriously, and one that tempered Vauner’s more extreme ideas.

This was partially because there remained a small majority of Sith Lords who subscribed to the traditional ideas of our kind, and privately seethed at the perceived weakening of their people. To them, it was anathema for a Sith to obey strict chains of command, respect the non-Force-sensitive, embrace aliens, and abolish slavery.

Nox was the focal point for this perspective – though her views on slavery were colored by her former bondage, and often conflicted with her allies. Still, she never wavered from her core stances – though she was savvy enough to know when to challenge Jadus and Vauner, and when to bite her tongue.

This stew of political jockeying kept the domestic peace, in its own shambolic way. Allowing all factions to turn their attention to more pressing issues of foreign affairs, namely, a continuing war of attrition against a rapidly modernizing, militarizing, and radicalizing Republic and Jedi Order.

Years of war dragged on. Billions dead on each side. A slow-motion cataclysm which culminated in a singularly unexpected detour: the Revanite War.

Darth Revan had been quietly building an army of traitors, loyalists, and spies for years following his release from the Maelstrom Prison. When his forces were ready, he commenced total war against the Republic and Empire alike. Both sides had lost some of their best leaders, as well as countless resources and soldiers. Politically it was little better, the public was growing war-weary – yes, dear reader, this terrible affliction can infect even Sith-dominated cultures.

Revan’s return was like a vibroblade to the hearts of Empire and Republic, and while both never formally declared a truce, they were quickly forced to contend with the Revanite forces throughout their territories. Revan himself focused on the Sith, personally invading Dromund Kaas, intending to destroy the Dark Council and kill Emperor Jadus.

He succeeded in one of those objectives, and may have succeeded in the other were it not for Darth Nox.

Revan carved his way through Dromund Kaas – laying waste to all who opposed him. Sith Lords, Dark Councilors, Emperor Jadus himself… none could withstand him. These battles were terrific and catastrophic in equal measure, and they left Revan weakened and weary. Still, he remained dangerous enough to almost kill Darth Nox as well.

But in the end, she emerged victorious – battered and near-death, but victorious nonetheless. In one fell swoop, the Revanite War was brought to a close.

It would take many months to clear out the remaining Revanite loyalists, holdouts, and armies – not to mention the Sith Empire was in disarray due to the decapitation strikes against its leadership. With Jadus dead, there was genuine concern that a fatal schism would open between the Sith factions, leading to civil war.

Intending to prevent this, Nox seized control of the Sith Empire, reconstituted the Dark Council, and was in active communication with Cipher Nine – who held sway over the Jadus loyalists – and Darth Vauner. Historical records indicate she was preparing to declare herself empress, though her ambitions were foiled when a new force emerged… one silent for so long.

Emperor Vitiate.

The long-absent Emperor personally returned to Dromund Kaas, and declared his intention to reassert control over the Sith Empire, and destroy the Republic and Jedi once and for all. Many believed that Nox would challenge the Emperor directly after this. Perhaps, perhaps not. What her intentions may have been are unknown, what is known is that after a personal meeting with the Emperor, she gave her full support to him.

One wonders if Vitiate’s return might have ushered in an age of Sith triumph, as with the weakened condition of the Republic and Jedi, he would have almost certainly succeeded. Alas, it was not to be, as a new threat – again unforeseen by any side – emerged from deep in the Unknown Regions.

The Eternal Empire of Zakuul.

Thousands of years later, I remain struck by the sheer chaos of this era. As if there is never a moment for the galaxy to breathe and recuperate. One hopes our own era remains stable – notwithstanding the Collective’s eventual conquest and fragmentation, but I digress.

One finds it curious that Zakuul had not intervened already, despite clearly knowing of both Republic and Empire beforehand. Their invasion demonstrates an acute knowledge of how each side operated and was organized – along with their strengths and weaknesses. It is my personal belief that their emergence, at this time, was no coincidence – but a direct reaction to Vitiate’s return. Given the legends of the man, the feats he was said to have accomplished, the raw power he embodied… perhaps even they felt threatened by him.

In the end, it does not matter.

The galaxy was a brittle sabacc tower – both Empire and Republic were crippled to near-uselessness. The galaxy was naked before the single most powerful polity of the era, and they took full advantage.

Coruscant and Dromund Kaas, Tython and Korriban, all fell to the armies of the Eternal Throne. From Satele Shan of the Jedi, to Darth Marr of the Sith, and everyone in-between – to include the Emperor’s Wrath – fell to Zakuulian blades. Darth Nox herself was taken captive in her last stand in Kaas City against Horizon Commander Vaylin, who led the Eternal Empire’s elite unit.

Many believed she met her end before the Eternal Throne.

The Eternal Empire forever changed the galactic status quo. An unknown enemy that came out of nowhere crushed the states that had dominated the galaxy for millennia. Imperial and Republican resistance sprang up almost immediately, with surviving Jedi and Sith attempting to organize as best they could.

This inevitably led to a degree of cooperation between factions. With actors on each side slowly trying to build a stronger, unified alliance – particularly, Sith Lord Lana Beniko and SIS Officer Theron Shan.

Still, some wounds were too fresh, the distrust too fierce. There were none amongst the surviving old guard who could inspire – or force – unity between the disparate factions. Thus, the resistance floundered as the Zakuulians solidified their control and turned the Republic and Empire into rump states and tributaries.

Until, that is, Beniko and Shan’s small band discovered something that could shift the entire conflict: Darth Nox was alive, and being held captive by the Eternal Empire.

Energized by this news, a prisonbreak was quickly planned, staged, and successfully executed that not only saw Nox freed, but also led to the fall of the Zakuulian prison world itself. Many of Zakuul’s most prized captives were liberated, and many eagerly joined the resistance. Darth Nox assumed control of what quickly became the ‘Alliance Against the Eternal Empire,’ and began transforming it into a force capable of victory.

History concerning this period is, unfortunately, limited, but there exists enough to share some basic facts and realities. There are numerous accounts, especially from the Republican side, that Nox was but one factor in the success of the Alliance, and her success was in no small part due to working closely with Jedi, Republic officials, and Zakuulian defectors. At no point, is it claimed that Nox had full control over the Alliance – some sources even have the temerity to refer to her as a ‘figurehead.’

Nonsense, reader, simply deceptive, revisionist nonsense. And the gall of these so-called histories to besmirch her memory with such disreputable language.

Recall that Nox was Sith. And not the pragmatic-radical Sith of Jadus, or the conciliatory and idealistic strain that Vauner embodied. She was traditional, proud, and imposingly Sith.

This did not mean she was blunt and stupid, as many Sith who think with their fists and not brains are. She cultivated allies and like-minded figures in the Republican side soon after she assumed control, corrupting and shaping them to reflect her goals and ideals. Those who were resistant to her leadership met unfortunate ends – usually on the battlefield, where their sacrifice offered something of value. Others succumbed to internal politics and were ousted.

With no one of equivalent power or experience to challenge her, Nox orchestrated and executed numerous plots against these internal enemies, nearly all of which succeeded, barring her attempts to subordinate Cipher Nine and his Imperial Intelligence remnants. She created an Alliance where both Jedi and Sith, Republic and Empire, answered to her, or whose loyalty to her cause was unquestioned.

It was a masterful display of guile, political aptitude, and Sith ruthlessness. No, Nox never demeaned or softened herself to achieve this degree of control. She did not compromise what she stood for in pursuit of a nebulous greater good. It was her vision that mattered, her desires that would be realized, and as the greatest Sith do, she carved vision into reality.

The Alliance was led to numerous direct victories against Zakuul. Rebellions were launched on a thousand worlds of Imperial and Republican origin, and the Eternal Empire, already unstable due to the death of Emperor Valkorian at the hands of his son Arcann, was beginning to weaken and lose cohesion as Empress Vaylin ruled in increasingly violent, schizophrenic, and contradictory ways. There are reports that even in her final months, Empress Vaylin dedicated a full fifth of Zakuul’s military might to pointlessly smash itself against Voss. Might the war have gone another way had she not been so wasteful?

Yet even with this internal tension – this shambolic leadership deficit – the Eternal Empire still held its own against the galaxy, even as the rump states rearmed and agitated and increased the scope and scale of the war beyond the hit-and-run guerilla tactics of Nox’s Alliance. There was little reason for them to fear anything. Afterall, they’d humbled the Republic and Empire when they’d been far more powerful than their current pitiful state.

Zakuul would persist while its enemies floundered, this was their truth. As time went on, this truth began infecting even the most ardent partisans within the Alliance. For all their victories and near-misses, the Alliance could not surmount Zakuul itself. It was then that a rumor began spreading amongst the Alliance leadership, a rumor confirmed a dozen times over… that she who sits upon Eternal Throne, would control the mighty fleet of Zakuul.

This one hope became the driving force to end a war that had persisted for years. A surgical strike against Zakuul was planned – dozens of strategies employed and discarded and reconsidered until finally a mission was developed to end the war. A desperate gamble unlike any they’d employed previously. A full-on assault against Planet Zakuul.

The records of this period are sparse and contradictory. There is a convention amongst the historians of Dromund Kaas that I shall relay to you now. They speak of a great battle in the Throne Room above Zakuul, where Nox and her retinue slew the Empress and seized the Eternal Throne. That Nox herself, battered by the conflict, sat upon the Throne and ordered the fleet to stand down.

And yet, that did not happen.

The Kaas histories claim there was a deception by the Empress and her late father. That in reality, no usurper would ever be allowed control. When Darth Nox sat upon the Throne, the fleet abandoned its battles and laid waste to every inhabited world it could find. Base Delta Zero on a galactic-scale.

The rain of plasma lasted a full two months before the fleet simply vanished, leaving the Republic and Sith Empire in utter ruin. The Eternal Empire fared little better, as Nox’s final command was to raze all Zakuulian worlds to cinders in reciprocal xenocide.

And in her final act, Nox boarded her ship and jumped to hyperspace on course for Zakuul’s sun. The impact was so devastating that it triggered a supernova that vaporized the capital system and left nothing behind beyond a new nebula.

Rubbish.

Forgive me, but I will only tolerate fanciful mythologizing up to a point. Those of you familiar with the physics of hyperspace are likely in agreement with me. One cannot occupy hyperspace anywhere near a gravity well in excess of point-two-four g. It is simply impossible. It’s why interdictor mines are so effective at disrupting hyperlanes. If Nox truly made the jump into the star, the vessel would have returned to real-space well before it ineffectually crashed into the chromosphere.

It is more probable that Zakuul was similarly razed by Nox’s fleet and the system’s coordinates lost to time. That no one has found it is hardly surprising, given the near-infinite number of uncharted systems in Wild Space.

Regardless of the truth, the consequences were stark. A galactic Dark Age not seen since the collapse of the Infinite Empire of the rakata, and by the will of the Force, will never be experienced again.

ON DISCOVERY AND AN ALLIANCE

No world was spared the devastation the Eternal Fleet and Nox unleashed upon the galaxy. From Coruscant to Dromund Kaas, the unending rain of plasma left trillions dead before the fleets retreated to parts unknown.

Within the span of weeks, the entirety of galactic civilization reverted to a technological and industrial level not seen in millennia. There was no Republic or Empire anymore – there were only isolated worlds beset by compounding crises. Where everyone and everything was touched by tragedy until their collective suffering echoed through the Force in a reverberating cascade that drove Jedi and Sith light-years away mad with reciprocal empathy.

Can you even comprehend the level of privation required to drive a hardened Sith Lord to madness by proxy?

One of the first worlds to be fully reclaimed by the Alliance, Dromund Kaas had become a stronghold during the war, and served as the center and symbol of Darth Nox’s authority – even as she commanded the war effort from Odessen. Every major faction that comprised the Alliance was represented there. Subordinate Sith, Jedi aligned to her mission, Republic officials, the Alliance Intelligence apparatus, and Imperial commanders and strategists were all on Dromund Kaas until the end of the war.

Fortunately, contingencies were accounted for, and thus they were better prepared than most worlds for the bombardment. Yet the scale of devastation could not be understated, especially since Dromund Kaas had become a refuge for numerous civilians from across the galaxy.

Dromund Kaas had never been a heavily populated world, or a particularly diverse one during the Empire. It was dominated by the human-majority Sith, even as aliens became more common following the reforms of Jadus and Vauner. The vestiges of this lingering system were fully abandoned out of practical necessity by Nox during the conflict, despite some minimal protests.

No one could be spared for the war effort – so long as they submitted to her authority. Numerous communities of aliens, from kaleesh to togruta, took refuge in large numbers, toiling away in the Dromund industry, or joining the armed resistance itself. Calling them ‘civilians’ is a rather misleading term – there were no civilians during the war as far as Nox was concerned.

This was total war – absolute war. Everyone had a place to be and a role to fill. No one was allowed on Dromund Kaas unless they could contribute to the war effort – those who required encouragement might find themselves shackled in the mines. This policy extended throughout the galaxy and those independent worlds who refused to adequately commit to Nox’s resistance were outright conquered and subordinated by the Alliance itself. None but the voss were permitted neutrality while Zakuul stood tall. Whether you aided Nox voluntarily or not was immaterial.

All would serve.

All of this created a situation on Dromund Kaas following the bombardment that was impossible to conceive of even years before. Nearly all industry was destroyed, shipyards and hangers had been systematically targeted by the Eternal Fleet, wiping out the possibility of immediate space travel, or the ability to readily build new ships.

Rebuilding anything on Dromund Kaas is a tall order at the best of times.

A resource crisis began almost as soon as the fleet left. The surviving disciples of Darth Nox, foremost among them her surviving wife Lana Beniko, took control of the situation and began their efforts to do as Darth Nox had always done.

Survive.

Through a combination of planning, diplomacy, ruthlessness, sacrifice, and guile, they were able to seize control of Dromund Kaas, eliminate those who were inciting unrest, rebellion, or doubt in their abilities, and bring a certain degree of stability to the world. It was not simple, bloodless, or easy – yet it was done.

This, reader, is the true birth of the Order of Darth Nox.

Order demanded hierarchy, hierarchy demanded enforcement, enforcement demanded a system of rule that could rise to the present needs – and evolve into something capable of rule in the future. It was seen as both a practical need, and an evolution of the Sith structure itself.

First, the disciples oversaw the creation of a new aristocratic class, which was structured in such a way as to ensure their continued dominance. This system would evolve into the Kaasian Nobility, and at its heart, were the children of Nox and Lana, the progenitors of a ruling dynasty that survives to this day.

It was an ambitious plan that stretched many generations before it became solidified, but one that slowly, eventually, evolved into the system that exists today. This is the legacy of Nox, preserved in a way that few Sith can claim. They say the spirit of Nox herself guided them through these early, hard days, as have the spirits of Nox’s disciples following their own deaths.

For thousands of years, the Order of Nox slowly rebuilt the world’s industry, housing, and temples. The aristocracy became entrenched into a new society, and the system of nobility began to grow in size, with numerous smaller families splitting off as codes of conduct and practical traditions took shape.

The harshness and difficulty of Dromund Kaas slowed development and expansion significantly, limiting their own growth and technological development – forcing them to sustain themselves in more primitive conditions.

Yet they survived, even as they were largely confined to their own world. Tens of thousands grew up, served, and died without ever leaving Dromund Kaas. Still, they were all able to lead fulfilling lives – such as they were, in service to their betters.

They were forgotten by the rest of the galaxy, isolated as they were on the fringes of the Unknown Regions. While some might chafe at the thought of being forgotten to history, it served the Order of Nox well. Where would they be today if the galaxy had remembered? Would the resurgent Jedi simply ignore such a world?

For millennia, Dromund Kaas endured. Its people adapted to the land and their circumstances, thriving where their ancestors had struggled. They no longer worried about survival, and instead shifted their focus towards internal politics and rivalries.

Until one day they were discovered.

Lady Vathila descended upon this most august world with the subtle elegance of a royal procession, one greeted with great enthusiasm by the Aristocracy and their people. Was it chance, or the Force itself guiding her here? Only she could say, and thus far, she has remained silent.

Regardless, she was the first outsider to set foot on Dromund Kaas since the bombardment. It was a stunning discovery – Sith who had not only survived the Dark Age, but were heirs to Darth Nox herself. And of course, our Lady was equally stunning to them, as Dromund Kaas had not entertained a being of such power since Emperor Vitiate himself.

Following nearly a year of diplomatic talks, the Mistress inaugurated the Order of Darth Nox into the Sith Collective, and pledged to support Dromund Kaas and its people in whatever manner they required – an offer they eagerly accepted. For the first time in countless generations, they began exploring their ambitions beyond Dromund Kaas itself, and brought a new era of power and prosperity to the bearers of Nox’s legacy.

ON NOBLE TITLES AND STATUS

Titles hold a special place amongst our kind, even more so for the Order of Nox. It allows one to convey, with full clarity, who they are and why you should listen when they speak. A single prefix can mean the difference between respect and derision, honor and ill-repute, life and death – should you run afoul of someone of stature.

The Aristocracy is not created equally. This is most clearly conveyed through the myriad of titles the Order employs. It is an effective method of distinction that easily allows one to understand the social structures of Dromund Kaas.

Each social position, from the Commonwealth to the hierarchy of the Aristocracy itself, will be covered in detail – but first, we will review the associated positions and titles.

We will start with those that are universal – those not restricted by social standing, or tied to any specific noble class.

The lowest title a noble can hold is Infante. Generally only given to noble children, it is how they are addressed until they come of age – which, it should be noted, will vary depending on family and species. Infante is also given to cadets of noble families – primarily those who are adopted – and is immediately retired upon reaching adulthood, or if the respective family head judges them worthy.

A couple titles refer to administrative positions that certain nobles hold in the Dromund System. The first is the Viceroy, which is given to nobles responsible for administering a large region of land – often equivalent to a state. It is the highest governorship role a noble can hold. Below this is the role of Baron or Baroness, which is given to those who govern smaller counties or estates – all of whom fall under their respective Viceroy.

Finally, there is a unique title of note: the Altus. It is a relatively rare, circumstantial title which is only employed or bestowed upon individuals who are responsible for leading houses or families of diverse special demographics – in or beyond the family itself.

For this reason, it is often given to wartime leaders, who will usually lead several different houses, or those who have uniquely diverse families which include multiple alien species. House Beniko is one such family which regularly employs this title.

There are no formal requirements to have this title bestowed upon oneself, but it is not something frivolously employed. When it is, Altus is conjoined with any other titles an individual may have (for example, Altus-Arlessa or Altus-Viceroy), the only exception is the head of House Beniko, who is addressed both formally and informally as ‘Altus,’ rather than ‘Altus-Deshyr.’ Take note if anyone possesses this honorific – they are almost certainly someone of distinction and worth.

Now, we can move on to the numerous titles of the noble hierarchy.

Beginning with the Gentry, adult members are formally addressed as Heer, a title that denotes them as part of the lesser nobility, but nonetheless above the station of a simple commoner. Families amongst the Gentry are led by an Arl or Arlessa, who speak on behalf of their house.

The Noble Houses themselves are more traditional as far as titles go. The title of Lord or Lady is appropriate for addressing any member of a Noble House, and the heads of these families may be referred to as the respective Duke or Duchess.

The High Nobility introduces some additional complexity to their address. While Lord and Lady remain acceptable to address members of the High Nobility, the head of the family is addressed as Deshyr. The title arose in reference to the landholdings of the High Nobility, as they often encompass entire continents, or ‘desh’ in the local parlance. Another title unique to the High Nobility is the Dauphin, which is given to the heir apparent of the respective family, and utilized regardless of their gender.

There is also the title of Teryn, which is equivalent in authority and meaning to Deshyr, but is used exclusively by the non-human houses of Xalek and Zavros. The title refers to their shared sovereignty over the Hinterlands – splitting the desh into ‘teyrnirs.’

The splitting of the continent – the largest on Dromund Kaas – might, at first glance, appear to be a means of segregating the non-human Great Houses. First impressions are rarely accurate, dear reader. A more nuanced examination will reveal that both houses are apolitical, and both houses operate at the extremes of the spectrum in matters of the Force. There are no official decrees spelling this out, but I suspect they were given these lands specifically to counter one another.

Forgive me my tangent, dear reader, it’s a subtle thing I wanted to convey to you before we moved on. Regardless, I have found no instances where the title of Teryn was referenced disrespectfully. They are High Nobility and due all respect on – and off – Dromund Kaas.

Finally, the Royal Family has its own special titles. One can again address members of House Beni’vel as Lord or Lady, but that is the only honorific of similarity to the other noble families. The Crown Prince or Crown Princess is given to the heir apparent – without exception.

Rarely, if the Royal Family wishes to maintain secrecy and privacy of the child, the heir will be referred to as the Crown Sovereign. This has historically only been maintained until the heir reaches their teenage years, and must begin openly preparing to assume the throne.

In circumstances where the Beni’vel Sovereign unexpectedly dies or abdicates the throne, the Prince-Regent or Princess-Regent will rule in their stead in the event that the Crown Sovereign has not come of age. This individual is always either the spouse or closest blood relative of the Sovereign – often a sibling.

They will be responsible for ruling Dromund Kaas and leading the Royal Family in a caretaker role before ceding authority to the Crown Sovereign when they come of age. While on paper they enjoy all of the former Sovereign’s authority, there are certain restrictions that come about simply due to Court politics – a Regent will never command the same innate respect as a true Sovereign, no matter how august.

Currently, the Royal Family finds itself in this unfortunate situation, and are presently ruled by the Princess-Regent Copania Drellik-Beni’vel.

And at the apex of this hierarchy is the Prince or Princess of Dromund Kaas. They may also be referred to as the Sovereign of Dromund Kaas. Either mode of address is acceptable, though some Sovereigns have a preference.

This is the highest title one can gain within the Order of Nox, and the greater nobility. This myriad of titles and roles may be confusing, and frankly unnecessary to the average reader – whose interactions with nobility will be distant at best – but if one wishes to understand the complexities of this order, you must understand how they organize and recognize themselves.

Read these titles. Learn them. For through knowledge, comes comprehension.

And if this were a dissertation on Dromund Kaas alone, that’s where this section would end. Instead, we must now turn our attention to Dromund Fels, where the Felsian Guilds hold sway. The old colony has its own section further down, but relevantly, it possesses its own collection of titles – though one hesitates to refer to them as ‘noble.’

The settled regions of Dromund Fels dot the arid planet’s surface like an archipelago, collectively referred to as the ‘Bannorn.’ Each holding falls under the purview of a ‘Bann’ – roughly analogous to a regional governor – drawn exclusively from the amalgamated noble families who settled Dromund Fels. Most Banns only claim a single settlement, but others claim small clusters of up to six.

Each individual settlement is administered by a ‘Viscount,’ who acts as an executive for the city, in conjunction with a pseudo-democratic city council – generally made up of ten members known as ‘Soporati.’

This is where things get interesting because it is the only place in Dromund society where commoners are permitted equivalent authority to the Kaasian Nobility. Though I should point out that ‘commoner’ is woefully inadequate to describe Felsian high society, they are all aristocratic, they simply lack noble blood – at least in sufficient quantities. While this limits them in certain ways, they have prospered mightily in the Bannorn.

ON THE HIERARCHY OF THE COMMONWEALTH

The Order of Nox is stratified – a statement that will not prepare you for how starkly this manifests.

However, it possesses an honesty that many do not wish to admit; the difference between high and low, the important and inconsequential, is codified into society itself. On Dromund Kaas, all people fall into two camps: they are either noble, or they are not.

Let us discuss the latter first.

The ‘Commonwealth of Dromund Kaas’ comprises all individuals who live on the territories of the noble families, and serve them to the best of their abilities. This includes laborers, farmers, teachers, engineers, and nearly any kind of job that one can imagine to enable a functioning society.

Of course, there are some internal hierarchies within this framework – one must have some way to determine leaders from followers, and the intelligent from the dull. Yet the details do not matter, do they?

I trust I need not answer this question.

Everyone within the Commonwealth falls under the direct rule of a house of the Gentry or a Noble Family, and are also considered subjects of the Great House which administers their continent of residence. It need not be explained that, as citizens of the Commonwealth, they all ultimately fall under the control of the Royal Family of Beni’vel.

But these are formalities and technicalities, ones that rarely have a direct impact. What does this mean in practice?

Simply put, the Commonwealth citizens directly serve the Aristocracy who directly administers their land. Often, these will be Noble Families who are not of the High Nobility. How they are treated – in terms of laws, expectations, and norms – will differ from family to family, but the efforts of the Beniko Seneschals have worked to codify baselines the nobles tend to follow.

Does this mean that there are no distinctions? That the peasants do not have preferences?

On the contrary, reader. It is well-known that the peasantry prefer the rule of Houses Beniko and Zavros, who are known to be more involved in the administration of their lands, compared to the more distant, harsher sovereigns from Drellik or Xalek.

The remaining Great Houses tend to allow a freer hand to the Noble Families underneath them, which can significantly vary what the citizens experience.

With that said, there are steps the Order of Nox has taken to prevent unnecessary abuses – pain and punishment must serve a purpose after all, and even the harshest noble understands that each individual in their charge is valuable – and the Great Houses do not tolerate waste.

Now, you might wonder what options one has in what seems to be a harsh, predestined, and – one might even say – unfair system? Are those who are born into this lowly caste condemned to languish there forever? Stewing in stagnation and mediocrity?

Certainly not.

Let us remember that no one knows better than Nox that one’s station does not determine their worth or fate. Nox rose from a slave to be one of the greatest Sith in our history – but she achieved this because she was worthy. When she proved herself, she took each and every opportunity to climb the lethal ladder of Sith politics.

It is not merely allowed for a commoner to rise above their station, it is expected that those capable will. This expectation, this hope persists, and when these commoners are elevated into the Gentry, others see this, and know how and why they achieved this.

It provides a powerful incentive to strive harder, dedicate oneself fully, and know that they will be rewarded for their efforts.

But it is not easy.

To be noble is to be above the rabble; to prove you are more than your birth would imply.

There is only one path to nobility, and that is to demonstrate not mere competence and loyalty, but how you will benefit the Aristocracy as a whole – and specifically, your patron family. If one can impress a noble, they may be rewarded with elevation to the rank – with an expectation that their benefactor’s trust was not misplaced.

Elevation in this way is more common than you might think – for all of the Noble Families are looking for new talent, perspectives, and sharp minds to increase their own standings and curry favor with other Houses – or deny their rivals an asset.

There is a ruthless, cutthroat side to this dynamic that is an open secret among the Aristocracy and Commonwealth alike. You may think that all in the Commonwealth wish for nothing more than to ascend beyond their station, but this is not so, for they know what awaits them should they succeed.

There are citizens of the Commonwealth who have no aspirations. Fear rules their hearts, hesitation freezes their actions, doubt cripples their ambitions. For in the Aristocracy, they see not prosperity, but death.

There can be wisdom hidden in such fear.

As such, it should not be surprising that some are content with their station, and will toil in silence, mediocrity, and obscurity until they die – forgotten, but alive. That is a price some are willing to accept. Others are not, even if they understand this critical truth.

Those who ascend enter a world alien to them, and join a millennia-old game with no conclusion, whose rules they are ignorant of.

They will thrive… or die in the attempt.

ON THE GENTRY OF DROMUND KAAS

Sometimes, those of true distinction, talent, and competence emerge from the wretched chaff of the Commonwealth. They gain recognition above their peers, and earn the attention of their betters.

These, reader, are the ‘Gentry of Dromund Kaas.’

For every commoner content with their station is another who dreams of proving their mettle at Court. Of engaging in the intrigue that defines the high society of Dromund Kaas. Oh yes, even among the commoners, there are plenty who are ambitious and have plans for what they will do if given the opportunity.

But make no mistake, reader, the Gentry are at the bottom of the Aristocracy. Every elevated commoner enters into this brave new world as an asset. A resource that is employed, expended, and gambled with by nobility greater than they. The Gentry lack a certain agency enjoyed by the more established Houses.

In the bluntest of terms, the Gentry are pawns.

They are selected, elevated, and directed for the benefit of other Noble Families – and even the High Nobility. They are the most expendable of the noble assets; the most disposable, even more than the Commonwealth. For a commoner can never materially threaten the Aristocracy. The Gentry, on the other hand, are a political force – even if small – which can affect the balance of power.

It is an unbalanced, dangerous, and ruthless dynamic between the Gentry and their patrons. Thus, the objectives of the Gentry are twofold.

First, they must obey and execute the will(s) of their patron(s) to the best of their ability. Those who fail to do so will be quickly discarded or unceremoniously sacrificed. Particularly vindictive patrons will humiliate upstarts before purging their bloodlines completely. One cannot rise in the Aristocracy without allies – and the most important ally is one’s own patron.

Second, they must survive – no more, no less.

After one reaches a certain status amongst the Aristocracy, it becomes frowned upon to engage in overt interference or arrange accidents – but this understanding does not extend to the Gentry. The Gentry must simultaneously prove they are worth protecting and investing in – while exercising enough intelligence, guile, and strategy to mitigate the enemies they may make by virtue of their patrons.

The attention of the patron is divided, and rarely will they invest everything in one member of the Gentry. It is expected that the Gentry are able to be self-sufficient, and possess some aptitude in avoiding obvious mistakes. If they fail? Then they were unworthy of their new station, and all that entails.

It is a beautiful, poignant system that makes me smile every time I contemplate its intricacies. It is a system in full alignment with what it means to be Sith – the strong, smart, and powerful will prosper, while the unworthy will be cast aside. This is why I warn you to never scoff at the nobles of the Order of Nox.

They are cunning. They are ruthless. They are perceptive. They are all of these things, because they have to be.

Otherwise, they would be dead.

It is simply portrayed in its purest form within the Gentry.

Now, those that successfully navigate this crucible become valued allies to their Noble patrons, and almost always rise to their level, usually through marriage or by accumulating enough wealth and influence to forcibly improve their status in the Court. The latter is far riskier, but offers a certain independence as they are not literally wed to another Noble House.

Still, all avenues available to the Gentry carry risk. Failure is simply not tolerated – and the rule of the Kaasian Nobility would be shaky indeed if such failure was not highlighted and made an example of.

Those who failed their patrons may be stripped of their titles and status in disgrace, and returned to the Commonwealth as dishonored commoners – a social fate worse than death, if the suicide rates are anything to go by.

They may be sacrificed in a fatal scheme, buying one final speck of usefulness with their lives. Others are simply executed. Others still might not fail outright, but fall victim to the schemes of another Noble House or the Gentry – failure is failure, regardless of qualifiers, dear reader.

The Dromund Court is pitiless, and one learns quickly if they possess the mettle and wit to survive. It is scarcely a wonder that the vast mass of the Commonwealth is content with their station – for at least they are likely to keep their lives.

Yet for those who emerge intact, they are well on the path to power, influence, and wealth beyond what they could have imagined before.

ON THE NOBLE FAMILIES OF DROMUND KAAS

The next rung on the hierarchy is the Noble Families themselves – above the Gentry, but below the Great Houses of the High Nobility.

It is these Noble Families who are the most versatile, numerous, and, arguably, important of the noble classes as a whole. Equal parts tasker and tasked, the Noble Families of Dromund Kaas support and execute the ambitions, plans, and goals of the High Nobility – primarily manifested by their direct work administering to the Dromund System itself.

Each Noble Family has some direct blood connection, distant as it might be, to the High Nobility, and rarely, the Royal Family itself. Of course, their bloodlines have become severely diluted as a consequence of marriage, adoption, and the elevation of members from the Gentry to prominent positions.

Though if we can be honest, the purity of the Nobles has become less and less important over time, to the point that it is hardly a topic of discussion at all. Yet this lineage remains historically important – for reasons of politics.

The thinned blood does not erase where they originally descended from, even if blood relations are so distant to be inconsequential. This nonetheless has political implications, as these historical connections often determine to whom any respective Noble Family aligns itself with.

Unlike the Gentry, the Noble Families have more freedom and flexibility in how they wish to assert themselves or define their place. Though to be clear – there are no independent Nobles. Everyone, officially or otherwise, is aligned to one of the High Nobility – even if the degree of their support can be symbolic or sincere.

There are several other factors which determine the degree of autonomy they possess. Newly elevated, or smaller Noble Families are more restricted in what they can do without consequence or retaliation, and are usually tightly bound to the interests of a Great House. Larger Noble Houses have more flexibility, and are more willing to push the boundaries, or assert themselves in the Game the entire Aristocracy indulges in.

Though they must take care – one’s ambition can easily become their undoing, and the Nobles must be mindful to not exhaust the patience and support of the High Nobility.

No matter how important a Noble Family may think they are, they are ultimately inferior to the High Nobility, and their betters have little issue punishing upstarts that believe themselves above their station. It is one thing to work to undermine or act against a Great House to improve the standing or position of another Great House, for such is the way of the Court. It is a very different thing to challenge the legitimacy and authority of the High Nobility entirely – for if one thing unites the High Nobility, it is ensuring that they will not be challenged.

The choice was made long ago that there would never be any more Great Houses. Thus, ambitious Nobles learned that if they wished to influence and shape the politics of the Court, they needed to become creative.

The ideas are simple, and easily understood. One must grow their family to a respectable size, align themselves to a preferred Great House, and employ marriages, resources, and political capital strategically. If one must arrange the marriage of a firstborn daughter to a High Noble son, or support them in Court in exchange for elevating loyal subjects into the Gentry, these are sacrifices worth making.

Blood connections are the easiest path towards influence – though this comes with certain drawbacks, and ties the Noble Family to the High Noble in question in a way that cannot easily be broken.

Some prefer to keep their options open.

Shifts in alliances or rivalries are not uncommon, particularly among larger Noble Families who have developed reputations of their own. Often, they will raise members of the Gentry under them in a bid to expand their influence and local hierarchy – this makes them attractive allies, though they run the risk of being seen as upstarts. Anyone who might affect the balance of power quickly gains the eye of the High Nobility – it will end badly if they play their hand poorly.

It is a delicate process where failure often means the destruction of the Noble House – but if done competently, strategically, and patiently, it can garner boundless rewards.

But is this all the Nobles do? Plot, scheme, and play politics?

Many do. But this comprises a relatively small part of each respective Noble Family, as it is generally the leaders of the family, and their inner circles, who engage in such politicking. The silent majority work in more conventional roles – administering their domains, and managing their respective Commonwealth citizens.

Unless they are directly within the line of succession, or directly related to the family leadership, it is rare that the average Noble partakes in the grand Game to such a degree. Their concerns are more… worldly. They focus on maintaining supply chains, ensuring deliveries are on time and harvests are successful, and resolving local disputes.

Politics, to them, is more distant, and for their social betters.

Though their lack of involvement is unlikely to protect them should their House’s leaders squander their position. Even if one’s talent is not political, it is good to keep an ear to the ground.

It could very well save your life.

ON THE GUILDS OF DROMUND FELS

Officially, the world of Dromund Fels falls under the purview of the Royal Family, though they had little interest in cultivating the world themselves. Instead, they would lease parcels of land to any with the ambition to settle the arid sphere. The High Nobility had little interest, but those of lower strata saw something long-absent from Kaasian society.

Opportunity.

Alone, none could afford the attempt, but by allying with their peers, their combined capital could be focused on that singular purpose. Managing these resources led to the founding of inter-family corporations.

Centuries of haphazard colonization were beset by calamity and triumph in equal measure, as the lessons of past explorations made themselves obvious. One need only look to previous efforts to see the pitfalls of such adventurism.

Many corporations failed. Ambitious nobles lost everything on their gamble – left to choose between destitution and personal oblivion, many chose the latter. The colonization of Dromund Fels claimed many in the process of its conquest, but those who did not fall to such struggle grew ever stronger with each personal success. They learned, and they thrived.

Of course, the High Nobility took notice of this change in fortune, and many sought to take advantage, but they found themselves stymied by the very success they coveted – the oldest and most robust of the corporations remained standing, and they were unwilling to part with their hard-won gains for the sake of tradition. It is important to remember that while many Felsian efforts failed, there were true visionaries amongst the settlers whose ambition went beyond short-term profit and glory. They sought the formation of a power structure to exist in parallel to the Kaasian Nobility.

One they would be in the center of.

This did not mean their strategy was flawless – some splintered or collapsed. Yet they persevered, and as the population centers grew and the Bannorn took shape, the founding corporations calcified into an indelible aspect of Felsian society and governance. This culminated in the ‘Guild Charters,’ an official Royal Proclamation which codified their privileges and legally separated them from Kaasian ambitions.

Given all that, it may surprise you to know that the Guilds send representatives to the Dromund Court. I would gently point out that it’s called the Dromund Court, not the Kaasian Court. When their inclusion was first proposed, the Kaasian Nobility was in an uproar.

Who were these pretentious upstarts – these common merchants – to demand equal standing with families that have existed since time immemorial? I’ll tell you who they were, they were the preeminent economic powerhouse of the Order of Nox and no amount of manicured handwringing was going to stop them from claiming what was theirs by right.

A voice.

They were too powerful to ignore, and they were shrewd in a way uncanny to the blooded nobles at Court, who saw a twisted reflection of themselves in Guild leadership. Thus, they obtained their voice. Still, the Felsians have little interest in Court outside of expanding foreign markets and protecting their economic dominance from outside competition.

They retain a positive relationship with the Royal Family, and will extend to them opportunities and courtesies rarely if ever extended to other families. One wonders if this is out of a traditional respect or pragmatism – as House Beni’vel still retains legal ownership of Dromund Fels itself – or if it is because the Royal Family has not attempted to interfere with the management of the Guilds, simply taking its cut.

Regardless of the reason, the Guilds are, unlike their noble contemporaries, primarily focused on a single goal, and tend to lack the factionalism and infighting that plagues the Aristocracy. Adept at politics they may be, but they appear to understand that their leverage extends only so far – and it is not conducive to wage a prolonged power struggle against the High Nobility.

For they understand that in such a contest, they would eventually be outmatched, even with the Royal Family’s backing.

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILIES OF DROMUND KAAS

Atop the social hierarchy of the Order of Nox, subordinate only to the Sovereigns themselves, are the Great Houses of the High Noble Families of Dromund Kaas.

Each bloodline is directly traced to the closest disciples of Darth Nox – Beniko, Zavros, Xalek, Shan, Drellik, and Revel. Each of these families wields extensive influence and power over Dromund Kaas, and are primarily responsible for shaping the world, and the Order of Nox, into what it is today.

However, they are not just members of the Aristocracy. Their roles and responsibilities are more extensive than many assume. Each Great House not only directly administers a large region of Dromund Kaas – and the nobles who inhabit it – they are also responsible for a specific sphere of interest that they specialize in.

This organizational structure may sound familiar to you. It is an adaptation of the Dark Council of the Sith Empire, where each member was in charge of a specific sphere of influence within the Empire. Sometimes they were concrete, sometimes more nebulous, but each Councilor exercised absolute authority over their sphere.

There is a similar system here, though the spheres are broader in scope due to the fewer number of families. Their status, resources, and influence allow each Great House to specialize and develop to a degree that none other amongst the Aristocracy could ever achieve.

Nominally, the High Nobility are unified in purpose and mission for the greater good of the Order of Nox, and subordinate to the Royal Family. In practice, it is the High Nobility who are responsible for driving much of the politics at Court, with the influence of the Royal Family waxing and waning depending on who sits on the throne.

Centuries of isolation have allowed for dynamic alliances and rivalries to be forged, broken, and reshaped in a complex and ever-shifting web. Each family of the High Nobility has their own interests, and several seek to be the primary drivers of the direction of the Court, and the Order of Nox. This is the ultimate source of the Game of intrigue and subterfuge – the High Nobility competing for the right to control the future of the Order.

Some are better at it than others – Drellik and Beniko have always been adept players of the Game. Some families have always had a more adversarial relationship with each other compared to others – Zavros and Xalek have been rivals since the beginning, with occasional border skirmishes breaking out where their territories meet. Yet even those who are not as politically savvy, possess their own interests and viewpoints. Sometimes these groups can align – as they tend to be more flexible in their dealings – but in many cases, this is a means to an end.

One particularly amusing factoid when considering the dynamics of the High Nobility is that nearly all of them are distantly related as a result of marriages and adoptions over the millennia. Marriage has long been a reflection and indication of where the High Nobility stands in relation to one another. If one wishes to understand the current dynamics within the High Nobility, one only needs to review the last several decades of marriage agreements to gain a reasonable foundation.

Do not be uncomfortable in this knowledge, the Great Houses are significantly larger than even the largest Noble Family. They comprise hundreds to thousands of members, and as a general rule, tend to marry Nobles or – rarely – members of the Gentry rather than other High Nobles or those from the Royal Family.

Each of the Great Houses will, of course, be elaborated on in their respective sections, but this should provide an adequate overview of their place – and stature – within the Order of Nox.

ON THE ROYAL FAMILY OF DROMUND KAAS

And now we reach the crescendo of this noble hierarchy, with the Sovereigns of Dromund Kaas themselves – the Royal Family of Beni’vel.

The Beni’vel are the only High Noble Family that claims direct lineage to Darth Nox herself. The bloodline of Nox originates nowhere else, nor is it propagated with any house of the Gentry – no true Beni’vel of Nox’s blood would lower themselves in such a way for any reason.

In addition to Nox, House Beni’vel also claims direct blood-lineage to the other Disciples of Nox, particularly her wife Lana Beniko, Theron Shan, and Andronikos Revel. While the respective High Noble Families also claim legitimate blood-heritage, it is well-known that Beni’vel’s claim is just as, if not more legitimate – sometimes a source of tension within the High Nobility as they argue if this makes their own position more or less legitimate.

Largely gossip and speculation, even if questions may doubtless chew on the minds of the High Nobility in their quietest moments.

Officially, the Royal Family holds suzerainty over the entirety of the Dromund System. Their authority is vast, their word is as good as law, and their influence is domineering. The Dromund Court is ultimately subordinate to them, and with a word, they can uplift or cast down entire Noble Houses. All of the Aristocracy, to include the Great Houses, pays tribute first and foremost to House Beni’vel.

But, reader, we should both know it isn’t quite as simple as that.

There are some Sovereigns who indeed hold absolute, utter, and total power over their lessers. As it concerns the Order of Nox, this is not the case.

While House Beni’vel indeed holds authority over the Dromund System, their direct rule is restricted to the Black Islands – upon which Kaas City and the Court resides – the high seas, and all celestial bodies beyond Dromund Kaas and its moons in the star system, to include Dromund Fels.

Though the actual administration of the Fels colony has been largely ceded to the Bannorn following the successful lobbying of various mercantile enterprises. It was a similar situation with Dromund Kaas’s dual moons – Sami and Regi – which were ceded in full to the Great House of Revel and the Vizlavian Guard, respectively.

That particular event is a fine representation of the current state of the Royal Family, and the dynamic it holds with both the High Nobility and the Felsian Guilds.

One can make a strong argument that the power and prestige of the Royal Family has been slowly eroded over time. The Royals are always involved in Court politics, and maintain a dominant voice – but their practical influence varies heavily, depending on the shrewdness, intelligence, and ability of the sitting Sovereign in question.

There are weak Sovereigns, and there are strong Sovereigns. Strong Sovereigns keep the High Nobility in line, and are able to rule without significant challenge to their authority. They tend to hold themselves above the politicking – more concerned with harnessing a united Court, than expanding or solidifying their own power.

Weak Sovereigns are less capable, though not necessarily because they wish to be. Weak Sovereigns are sometimes more interested in partisan politics, favors, and personal power – which leaves them vulnerable to the High Nobility’s influence, and results in them commanding less respect from those who are not their allies.

The other kind of weak Sovereign is the one who is simply incapable. One who is easily swayed, outmaneuvered, and undermined without their knowledge. Often, they do not desire this, but lack the intelligence or allies to counter the schemes of the High Nobility.

In either scenario, it often results in the High Nobility exercising greater independence, and focusing on their own ambitions rather than the good of the Order as a whole – either because they have express permission to do so, or do not fear retribution by the Royal Family.

Furthermore, the High Nobility takes advantage of weak Sovereigns of each kind by eroding long-standing customs. The change to the status of Sami – Dromund Kaas’s moon – was one of these efforts, when the High Nobility successfully pressured the Princess of the time into ceding her authority. When power is ceded in such a way, it is difficult, if not impossible for it to be regained.

Had the Shaen of the Vizlavian Guard of the time not suggested turning the moon of Regi into a military fortification, it’s likely it would have also been ceded to the High Nobility.

There are practical realities that even strong Sovereigns are loath to risk after a period of normalcy, as their concern for stability and unity outweighs restoring their bygone authorities of the past – especially if they can exercise their own authority without issue. Additionally, as established, strong Sovereigns believe their power resides within their utilization of the Order of Nox as a whole – not explicitly the Royal Family.

This is something the High Nobility also understands. They tend not to antagonize strong Sovereigns – out of a concern they may be pushed to exercise their vast powers or decide to strengthen the position of the Royal House in more overt ways.

It is for this reason that the Royal Family and the High Nobility have a relationship that runs the gamut from friendly to tenuous, respectful to disdainful, cooperative to antagonistic. The specifics change; the relationship is dynamic, but it tends to fall into familiar cycles over a period of centuries.

As of yet though, none of the High Nobility has challenged the right of the Royal Family to rule Dromund Kaas, as it is enshrined in law that only a Beni’vel can sit upon the throne. Will this be another long-standing tradition that is broken?

If certain families of the High Nobility have their way, perhaps one day – but they will have only a single opportunity to succeed. For once that line is crossed, there is no going back. And the throne won’t always have a weak Sovereign sitting upon it.

The halls of the Dromund Court will run with the blood of the High Nobility if they are careless.

ON PALADINS AND CHAMPIONS

Within the Aristocracy there are those whose excellence and aptitude is beyond reproach. While in most cases, they remain valued members of the family, and are often given important roles and responsibilities, they are sometimes given additional powers and privileges.

These individuals are known as Champions.

Champions directly represent the family they hail from, and when they speak, it can be assumed that it reflects the position of the family itself. It is a position of significant power and trust, and thus, there is rarely more than a single Champion to a house of the Gentry or a Noble Family.

Notably, this convention does not apply to the High Nobility and Royal Family.

Instead, they employ multiple Champions at any given time – a necessity due to the larger size of their families. This comes at the cost of the role of Champion being slightly diluted. For some families, Champions are chosen and deployed as agents for a specific purpose, rather than recognizing one’s exceptionalism.

Now, you might wonder what happens if a Champion starts acting in ways that bring trouble, shame, or disruption to their family?

A simple problem, with a simple solution. The respective head of the family can strip them of their title, and punish them appropriately. This dramatic and immediate consequence usually prevents Champions from gaining certain… ideas, particularly concerning the direction of the family itself.

It is also for this reason that Champions are rarely, if ever, directly in the line of succession outside of the smaller families in the Gentry. Else any power struggle between a family head and a Champion might have a more uncertain conclusion.

In the Gentry, this is not an uncommon occurrence – one the victor swiftly learns from – though the lesson may not be applied next time due to a lack of options. Those who grow their families and expand their influence, will sometimes do so recklessly to ensure they are not forced to entertain such options.

These are the Champions – now let us move to the next special role for the Aristocracy.

The individuals who are known as Paladins hold a very unique role in the Order of Nox, the Aristocracy, and the Dromund Court specifically.

There are those within the Aristocracy who, simply put, take issue with the Game of intrigue and influence the families engage in. Why this happens varies between individuals, and numerous reasons could be cited, few of them important. Suffice to say, such individuals have a tendency to cause issues within their families – a problem that extends from the Gentry to the Royal Family itself.

Thus, a solution was conceived.

Paladins are individuals who effectively renounce their affiliation to their families, and dedicate their lives to the service of the Order of Nox, and the Dromund Court. They are explicitly non-political entities who are tasked with protecting and serving all of the Court, not any individual family.

They each answer only to the Court as a political body, and can only be directed by them. No family can command them, order them, or control them. They are as close to impartial actors as one can get on Dromund Kaas, coming from a myriad of backgrounds at all levels within the Aristocracy.

It is not necessarily as simple as someone deciding to be a Paladin – they must first be submitted to the Court for approval. If the Court accepts their submission, they may join the Paladins – an act that one cannot later take back. Similarly, if a Paladin has demonstrated inappropriate or biased conduct, the Court can strip a Paladin of their title, and punish them appropriately.

Certain ambitious families once attempted to have members infiltrate the Paladins and influence them to a more favorable outlook – something that ended exactly as you would expect.

The Paladins themselves slew these families who attempted to tarnish the integrity of their titles on the express permission of the Court. Similar influence efforts have not been attempted since.

Of course, there is a final unspoken factor at play here – the Paladins serve the Court, and the Court is, on paper, subordinate to the Royal Family. When this was first proposed, there was a quiet concern that the Paladins could become a tool of the Royal Family – but such fears have faded in recent decades as the Royal Family is unwilling or unable to exploit this option.

It is very likely that even if House Beni’vel attempted to directly command the Paladins, they would be refused if the Court did not consent. Yet no one truly knows, and it appears that no one is in any rush to find out.

ON THE DROMUND COURT

We come to the centerpiece of this web of intrigue, influence, and scheming – the Dromund Court of Kaas City.

The political and social heart of the Order of Darth Nox, the nexus of converging interests, ambitions, and plots that comprise the complex web of alliances, interests, and rivalries that comprise the Kaasian Nobility. One could write dozens of books on the individual stories and histories between the families who partake in Court politics.

The volumes exist, but alas, we have not the time, nor you, I presume, the interest.

Thus, I will focus on what is important.

The Dromund Court does not fulfill just a single role, nor is it a purely symbolic battleground for the Aristocracy. Near the center of Kaas City itself is a towering building, which rivals, though does not eclipse, the Royal Palace. Within its heart is the Court itself – a massive amphitheatre within which is a semicircle of seats, one for each Noble Family, with escalating tiers depending on their status.

At the lowest level are the seats for the Gentry, above these are for the Noble Houses, and at six tiers above them are seats where representatives of the High Nobility sit. And at the outer centerpoint of this semicircle, rising above all others, is where the representative of House Beni’vel sits.

But what, you might ask, does the Court do? What role does it play within the Order?

An important one, reader. A very important one.

The Court fulfills numerous different roles, and its power is flexible, vast, and absolute. It is a congress, courtroom, debate chamber, and mediation body – all as the case may be. It is better to ask not where the Court’s authority begins, but rather where it stops.

Ideological and political arguments, criminal cases, appeals for noble favors, official challenges to the authority of families, and individual disputes between nobles are all examples of what can be brought to the Court, either to gain their support, or receive their judgment.

In each instance, each noble is permitted to argue their position on them, and once all questions have been exhausted, they will come to a consensus. This consensus is often not as simple as approval or denial, but instead proposed by nobles themselves. In some cases, it might be a third option which does not satisfy any party, but nonetheless is approved and enforced by the Court.

One can imagine that the Court is exceptionally slow if every noble is allowed to say their piece, but remember that the Court is a battleground for the Game. There are schemes and strategies in play for even the most mundane cases, with nobles speaking or not speaking accordingly.

This is the simple reality of the Court, and how the Aristocracy treats it.

Each case is a plot, each argument is a maneuver, each verdict is a triumph or defeat – depending on who spoke, who presented, and who succeeded. While not every family will use each activity the Court partakes in to their advantage – they will nonetheless employ it, at least some of the time. There are always layers and subtext to pay attention to when any noble speaks within the Court, because there are often multiple audiences listening.

There is continual maneuvering, plotting, backstabbing, and drama that makes any given day of the Court fascinating to watch, as nothing is as straightforward or honest as it seems. Each case or presentation affects the political dynamics and perceptions of the entire Court, shifting entire plans and strategies already in motion.

Ah, I pity those who are tasked with understanding this labyrinth of competing interests, alliances, and histories. Little wonder so many write the Order of Nox off as ‘petty infighting nobles.’

Do such people sincerely think these skills cannot be employed in different ways? That people of such ruthless conviction, political cognizance, and basic competence are fools?

You understand how amusing this appears to one versed their intricacies, reader?

Remember this if you encounter such individuals. There is a reason the Order of Palpatine has sent observers to the Dromund Court, for there is much one can learn in it, and I suspect Palpatine himself would admire it.

Now, what about when the Court is not in session? Do the nobles merely depart to their homes until the next day to do this again?

On the contrary, dear reader, for rarely a day goes by without some kind of social event. Parties, banquets, and gatherings are a regular occurrence, for this is when the Aristocracy is allowed to mingle amongst themselves. Where schemes are hatched, alliances are forged, and betrayal is plotted.

These events are for friends and allies to reaffirm their loyalties and commitments, and for rivals to keep tabs on each other. It is for the masterminds to manage votes and objectives, and disruptors to undermine, intimidate, and insinuate to break up plots and tarnish the reputations of their enemies.

Such events are tense, exciting, and essential aspects of the Game.

That this is over a fine meal and excellent wine is only a bonus. It is the second battleground of the Aristocracy, the calm before the storm as it were, as the groundwork is laid before the Court returns to order, and each member sees if their investments, gambles, and plans have paid off – or if a gloriously cascading failure is in their near-future.

I can assure you, reader, there is never a dull moment in the Court. If you happen to attend, merely understand that the smiles are false, the compliments are lies, and you are now the part of a dozen schemes by an equal number of interests – wittingly or otherwise.

If you cannot turn the tables, ensure your own interests, or bow out gracefully before you can be entrapped – reconsider if this is truly where you should be.

Take heed, for if it is not, you will simply be another’s pawn – and pawns are meant to be sacrificed.

ON DROMUND FELS

When one visits Dromund Fels, they see anchorages named for corporate entities. They see amalgamated families found nowhere else in the Order of Nox. They see what ambition wrought once unleashed. Those who dared risk everything for the opportunity to strike it rich in the craggy deserts – those who survived, at least.

How did this come to be?

The sister world to Dromund Kaas was, for many centuries, neglected and ignored by the Sith and residents of Dromund Kaas alike. A sentiment not entirely without reason.

Dromund Fels is inferior to its sister in several ways. It is smaller, less developed, and lacks a strong connection to the Force. It was perhaps doomed to be consigned to irrelevancy from the start, and endure within the shadow of a world far grander and more historic.

Yet there is an undeniable connection between both worlds, and after years of life on Dromund Kaas, it was inevitable that the Order of Nox would eventually look to the only other habitable planet nearby.

During the time of the Sith Empire, Dromund Fels was an afterthought. It was sparsely populated by small settler communities, and held only a handful of symbolic Imperial outposts. Some Sith built small enclaves or homes, but there was never a significant, coordinated effort by the Sith Empire to substantially develop the planet.

A decision I ponder at times. What might have changed if the Dromund worlds were the twin jewels of the Sith Empire? Would it have mattered at all?

Alas, some questions will never receive answers.

Everything within the Dromund System is the exclusive personal property of the Royal Family. This might be confusing given my previous description of Dromund Kaas and the extensive lands controlled by the Great Houses. Technically, this is a case of leasing the land in perpetuity – though if the Royals ever pushed their rights to the land, it might well cause a schism. However, the Aristocracy’s influence off-world is notably muted outside the moon of Sami, and thus it all falls under Royal purview.

This is true for Dromund Fels as well. This harsh, arid world has been difficult to tame – though for different reasons than its sister world. While it is not a world of sand, it is a place of limited resources – at least those necessary for habitation. Water is scarce, limiting both sapient habitation and mass agriculture – though efforts have been made to partially terraform certain regions using ice-rich comets.

If you were to visit, you would see dry, rocky scrubland and a shallow, salty ocean that bisects the two great landmasses. And upon these lands you will witness a smattering of enclaves strewn hither, thither, and yon in an archipelago of civilization. Each island of life administered by someone other than the Royal Family.

How did this come to be?

While the world belongs to the Beni’vels, its resources remained largely untapped, as the family focused its efforts on maintaining control of the Court and rebuilding Dromund Kaas – this was also true of the Great Houses, who feared that the financial ruin of an off-world boondoggle would leave them vulnerable.

And so, it fell to the Nobles and Gentry to fill this vacuum. On their own, they lacked the means to finance such a project, but by pooling their resources, they were able to form corporations – the predecessors to today’s Felsian Guilds – and fund private exhibitions to explore and lay the groundwork for future colonization.

With the Beni’vels’ blessing – and generous loans to fund the initial stages of colonization – the ‘Fels Rush’ began in earnest. For decades it was the boondoggle the Great Houses had feared, and numerous corporations were shuttered in the attempt. But there were those who persisted in the bleak wasteland they sought to cultivate. They sacrificed, and the Royal Family and the Order of Nox as a whole have reaped a bumper crop. Today the world is dotted with an archipelago of habitation filled with some of the most ambitious people in the galaxy.

As stated previously, this is the Bannorn, where the Felsian Guilds have – through sheer tyranny of will – created immense prosperity in a dusty wasteland no one else wanted.

This prosperity has drawn the attention of the Great Houses, who seek their own cut. Results have been mixed, as there is great resistance from the Bannorn who see it as noble encroachment. As for the Royal Family, they seem content with the status quo, unsurprising, as Dromund Fels has been a great boon to their treasury. The only Great House to make any real gains has been Revel, as their ‘down-to-earth’ disposition and mercantile pursuits pair well with the frontier Felsian spirit.

I should note, however, that while the Great Houses do not own cities in the Bannorn – as the Guilds jealously guard their holdings – that doesn’t mean their presence isn’t felt. Ambitious lesser sons and daughters of the Aristocracy can make a name for themselves amongst the Felsians.

In addition to financial and matériel investments, it’s easy to spot Beniko Peacekeepers, Zavros Knights, and Revel Machine-Masters. The only Great House that you won’t find in some capacity is Xalek – unofficial agreements have largely banned that House and its Executioners from operating on Dromund Fels. Given the mindset of the populace, their presence might create unnecessary unrest. Should the world descend into criminality, that may change, but for now, prosperity keeps it mostly at bay.

Dromund Fels is the frontline of the political proxy war for influence and status between the numerous factions of the Aristocracy. The Kaasian Nobility leverage their wealth to curry favor amongst the Guilds, securing better access to Felsian food exports while denying it to their rivals.

Due to the liquidity in this ‘influence market,’ regional dominance will shift hands far more regularly than they ever would on Dromund Kaas, which is by design. The Guilds do not tolerate noble dominance of their affairs – a position they maintain thanks to their unquestioned support of the Royal Family.

Dromund Fels is – if you can believe it – even more cutthroat and ruthless than Dromund Kaas. The Felsians treat everything as a business transaction, and they rarely obscure for the sake of decorum. Messages should be clear, lest they artificially distort the market.

Over the centuries, Dromund Fels has expanded from a simple food-producer to the foundation of Dromund intellectual and cultural pursuits. The greatest universities in the system – outside those employed by the High Nobility – are found here, alongside medical research facilities on the campus annexes. They also host the only major industrial efforts to produce holo-tech in the Dromund System. Due to wide-spread silica deposits and a dearth of domestic forests, the Felsians make far greater use of holo-tech than their Kaasian counterparts.

There is a thriving art scene, with domestic cinema to rival anything found in the Core. And there are ranches that produce an endless supply of both domesticated meats and exotic pets that Kaasian Nobility adore.

The Guilds have built a mercantile paradise that injects a much-needed dynamism into Nox’s economic pursuits. Dromund Fels is a world where economic war is waged on a daily basis by some of the most ambitious people in the known galaxy.

And what is the price of such ambition? Ruin or reward, there is no middle-ground here, dear reader.

ON DROMUND KAAS

Dromund Kaas is one of the oldest ancestral strongholds of the Sith. A world of danger, history, and power.

The planet was steeped in the Force long before the first Sith stepped foot on its lands. Some have described it as a Force nexus masquerading as a planet – with its influence shaping every aspect of the world. There is untamed, wild, raw power that was a natural draw to the first Sith colonists.

The power was unharnessed, unguided. Open for exploitation. And so, the Sith did what we always do.

We take what is ours by right.

It is believed that prior to the arrival of the Sith, the Nexus was neutral – in as much as one can label something so primordial – it was merely an untamed power. It was like an animal that lashed out or influenced with little pattern or reason.

Today, there is a more distinct purpose instilled in the Nexus, thanks to generations of Sith influencing it – just as it has influenced us. Its power and focus come from the darkness now, and no credible historian will dispute that the dark side has intensified the natural extremes of the world.

It turned from a world that was merely dangerous, to being a predator in and of itself.

A world known for storms the size of continents, with winds strong enough to collapse towers, which release rain that falls fast enough to bruise. Storms whose torrents drown the unprepared, and whose lightning can vaporize without warning.

A world home to creatures in tune with nature itself – warped as it is. From the vine cats who stalk unsuspecting explorers, to lumbering gundarks more fierce and powerful than their lesser cousins elsewhere in the galaxy. Insects who will swarm and devour the incautious. Swiftclaws who will fly off with unsupervised children. And numerous exotic creatures who tap into the Force itself to terrorize and hunt.

It is a world that actively fights those who settle it. Dense forests that grow and restore themselves with unnatural speed. Mountains that reach into the clouds with unforgiving peaks of jagged granite. Oceans with gaping whirlpools the size of starships, with perpetually rough waters that will push any seaman to their limits – which is to say nothing of the terrors that prowl their depths.

A planet that has evolved to kill you… as it should be.

It is a world of the Sith through and through, whose clouds darken the skies, shrouding the world in a perpetual twilight, broken only by the occasional glow of the cities that cling on even as the world reclaims their edges. How can such a world sustain itself? By the Force and will, reader. Dromund Kaas is alive, and those who fail to understand this will inevitably be consumed by it.

One does not simply live on Dromund Kaas – they survive it, or they master it. A truism that is exemplified whenever one explores the populated areas and takes note of the near-ubiquitous use of wood products. Are you from the Core Worlds, dear reader? Have you ever seen physical paper used outside of the most opulent of settings? It’s quite literally everywhere on Dromund Kaas. As are wooden buildings – from the humblest hut to the most imposing skyscraper. Wood is plentiful and cheap, as the forest is reluctant to cede territory to anyone and thus must continually be cut back. This is true for commoners and nobility alike, though the nobles are more likely to dwell within stone and steel domiciles. Nobles can also afford expensive imported holo-tech as opposed to paper, though a generational divide on that issue is well-entrenched, with older generations decrying the ‘corrupting’ effect of such imports on Dromund culture.

I apologize for that small tangent, dear reader, but it’s a detail I adore.

As for Dromund Kaas itself, it is divided into five distinct continents, with islands or island chains around many of them. Each is divided among the Great Houses of the High Noble Families, who – by the grace of the Royal Family and millennia of precedent and tradition – are custodians of their specific territory, and responsible for the nobility who assist in its administration.

We will start in the heart of Dromund Kaas – the Black Islands. Within these imposing stone spires is Kaas City, home to the Dromund Court, and where all of the Aristocracy maintains a presence. It is the only landmass on Dromund Kaas that is directly ruled by the Royal Family Beni’vel, and among its most distinct natural landmarks. It is positioned near the center of several continents, elevated above sea-level. Sharp mountains jut upwards, waves continually crash upon stony walls, and perpetual rainstorms fall upon the dark heart of Dromund Kaas.

To the north are the Sacred Grounds, a continent of significant history to the Sith. It is this region which was the most settled of Dromund Kaas, first by the original Sith explorers, and later by the Sith Empire. It is home to the most developed cities, many ancient archeological sites, and its defining landmark, the Temple of the Dark Lords. It is, one can say, among the most tamed regions of the world. It falls under the custodianship of the High Noble Family Drellik.

Directly to the south is the Hinterlands, the largest continent of Dromund Kaas. It has been systematically explored, settled, and bent to the will of the Order of Nox – no small feat, considering the leviathans that live there. It is known as a more temperate region of Dromund Kaas, though such is a relative term for the world. Custodianship of the Hinterlands is split between the High Noble Families of Xalek and Zavros at the Deo Mountains – with Zavros claiming the world’s only savanna region.

To the immediate west of the Hinterlands, separated only by a small river, is the Quarried Lands, home to much of the mineral wealth of Dromund Kaas. Complex mining systems, cave networks, and mountain clusters define its geography. It is the industrial heart of Dromund Kaas – and one of the most dangerous regions to live in when one accounts for the terrain and manual labor which dominates the local economy. It falls under the custodianship of the High Noble Family Revel.

To the far west are the Bloodlands, which is – even to this day – one of the least explored regions of Dromund Kaas. Do you wonder at the name of this place, dear reader? Do you believe it mere melodrama? They say the soil itself is stained red from millennia of failed explorations and colonization attempts. The region is home to aggressive, Force-sensitive wildlife found nowhere else – attuned in a way uncanny.

The animals are just the most obvious danger, as aggressive, thick forests make settlement difficult and treacherous – I can’t even think of a single plant in this region that isn’t covered in barbs or poisonous to the touch. Finally, almost as an afterthought, the Bloodlands host a particularly nasty weather phenomenon that spans clusters of devastating storms, some of which peel off and ravage the lands to the east.

It is a wretched place, that is miserable to till. That is, until the Bloodlands fell under the custodianship of the High Noble Family Shan. They have tamed this wild place – at least peripherally, with their settlements carving out an oasis along the coast. The Shans have done the impossible, they successfully colonized the Bloodlands. Cities and settlements are few and far between, and allies and rivals of Shan are wary of attempting to assess for themselves if the numbers provided are accurate.

Finally, to the northeast of the Sacred Grounds is the last continent of Dromund Kaas – the Jadian Reach, a continent with the most diversity on Dromund Kaas, in terms of climate and geography. It is the only continent with truly arctic regions, a few unique species of wildlife, and the longest mountain ranges on the planet.

Emperor Jadus built his residence on this continent, hence the name, though the region was never developed beyond his own imposing palace – which fell into disrepair long ago. It contains a respectable amount of natural resources, is moderately dangerous, but comes with its own challenges for any to properly administer. It fell to the custodianship of the High Noble Family Beniko, who have toiled over centuries to turn the Jadian Reach into a thriving region – as much as one can on Dromund Kaas, at least.

Each region has its own troubles, difficulties, successes, and failures. The conquest of Dromund Kaas is a true feat, and they have done more than even the Sith Empire achieved in its prime. Let none call the Order of Nox a people who are merely isolated and soft – for such people cannot tame a world such as this.

And yet, despite these successes, much of Dromund Kaas remains untamed and unsettled. Perhaps it never will be, even if the Order of Nox understands now what to do.

For any proper Sith, it is owed to yourself to visit this world at least once, for my words alone cannot do its justice. You must feel the power of this world, savor its hunger, and bask in its desire – only then will you understand and appreciate Dromund Kaas, and what it requires to live in such a place.

ON THE TEMPLE OF THE DARK LORDS

It is impossible to speak of Dromund Kaas without also covering perhaps its most historic landmark: the Temple of the Dark Lords.

It has been highlighted that Dromund Kaas is steeped in the power of the Force, and indeed, this was what drew the first Sith settlers. As they searched and sought for the source of this power, eventually they found the world’s Force Nexus, and naturally, began the construction of a temple atop it.

It was the Sith Lords Pharshol and Vacuus who spearheaded this effort, bitter rivals who intended to harness the power of the Nexus to use against the other. Numerous other Sith were recruited for this cause, and despite many challenges, they did successfully construct what would become the Temple of the Dark Lords – often shortened to the ‘Dark Temple’ by laymen.

I confess there is some irony in the fact that despite their ambitions, neither Pharshol nor Vacuus was able to achieve their ambitions, and each died obsessing over the power they were sure to one day possess.

Take heed, reader, that your pursuit of power does not turn into obsession.

They were not the first to succumb to the madness of the Dark Temple, nor would they be the last.

For centuries after their deaths, the Dark Temple was the center of Dromund Kaas. Sith lived, studied, and died as they sought to understand and harness the raw power of the Nexus – unknowingly fueling its obstinance. Each Sith who perished within its stone halls strengthened the Nexus, and formed a gestalt of will that haunted the Temple grounds.

Soon, it crossed a threshold that even the most learned and powerful Sith were not immune to. Sith began degenerating into madness and obscurity as the Temple overpowered them – as the spirits within were not silent, nor idle.

They whispered from beyond the veil – with a myriad of motivations. Some sought revenge on rivals, others merely wished to possess the living to walk the corporeal lands again.

In death, spirits pursued their vendettas, fueled by the raw emotion the Sith were unknowingly feeding them, empowered by the myriad of sacrifices offered in the vain hope of knowledge or power. The Dark Temple was not a place of rest or learning, but soon became a battleground for the spirits of the dead, fighting over the spoils within – which in this case, were the living.

Such was the ignoble fate of the first Sith on Dromund Kaas, and the Dark Temple fell into obscurity and disrepair after the spirits subsumed those within – for what need did the dead have for a well-maintained home? What few Sith escaped the madness quickly departed the cursed world, for there was nothing left for them.

And that, reader, is how it remained for centuries, until the return of the Sith, heralded by Emperor Vitiate.

Upon the Sith’s triumphant return to Dromund Kaas, interest immediately fell upon the Dark Temple once again, and a small army of Sith archeologists and scholars eagerly descended upon it – with their entourages of servants and slaves.

Like their predecessors, they too sensed the power within, and sought to harness it for themselves – and for the good of all Sith, of course.

It pains me to acknowledge how predictable we can be at times.

It went exactly how you would expect.

Undisturbed for thousands of years, the spirits of the Dark Temple did not take kindly to these new interlopers, and in the interim period, one spirit had risen above the others and held dominion over the Temple grounds. The Sith, naturally, dismissed the demands and warnings of the long-dead Sith Lord Kallig – few would live to regret such hubris.

Harnessing the power of the Nexus, Kallig broke the minds and souls of those who had intruded on his domain. Hapless Force-blind slaves and soldiers, trained Sith Lords, and even learned scholars – all became his pawns. Kallig began sharing the spoils with the spirits aligned to him – even as the rival spirits sought to make their own moves.

Now, the name should be familiar to you, and Kallig was indeed a distant ancestor of Darth Nox. It is not fully known why Nox entered the Dark Temple, as it is unlikely she was sent to pacify the spirits within – the Empire had largely written off the entire region and were focused on other matters.

Nonetheless, her actions within the Dark Temple disrupted the balance of power within the Temple. Kallig no longer haunted his tomb, but that did not mean the Temple was at peace. Still, her actions permitted Sith Sorcerers – masters of spirits and the dead – to begin the arduous task of pacifying the Temple.

They succeeded, and for the first time, the ubiquitous shrieks and moans of the Temple grounds were replaced by whispers. With the Dark Temple calmed, work began on restoring and converting it into a shrine to Emperor Vitiate himself, whose Voice would briefly inhabit it and conduct studies and experiments within.

Details for a different story.

This is its history – but what has become of it? What place does it hold in the Order of Nox?

In some critical respects, little has changed. The Temple of the Dark Lords, as it is formally called, remains as the center of the Force Nexus of Dromund Kaas – and thousands of spirits are said to roam its stone halls, and tread upon the damp grounds. Citizens are warned away from the Temple grounds, as the spirits are fickle, and can easily overpower a wayward mind.

The Temple suffered significant damage following the bombardment from the Eternal Fleet, but after it was granted to House Drellik, they undertook significant efforts to restore it to glory – and even expand upon it.

Since its restoration, all members of distinction within the Order of Nox have been entombed within. Figures critical to its founding and history have also been laid within, including Lana Beniko, Xalek the First, and Ashara Zavros – their spirits are said to still linger in their tombs.

Ah, you wonder why the Jedi and her kin were buried in a place steeped in such darkness?

Yes, this is worth some elaboration.

Burying Ashara Zavros was done at her own request – despite knowing the nature of the Temple. She was said to claim that she would extend a veil of protection over all her people who were buried near her – watching over their spirits, and allowing them a peaceful transfer into the Netherrealm.

There is a place deep within the Dark Temple that is described as a place of tranquility, where the spirits do not linger – but for one. Supposedly, the spirit of Ashara Zavros remains vigilant over this part of the Dark Temple, a guide to the departed who helps them navigate to the beyond, instead of enduring the purgatory that would otherwise await them.

But this is merely rumor, reader, though a curious one nonetheless.

Today, the Temple is maintained by the Prophets of the Dark Lords, savants and Force-users of House Drellik, who have devoted their lives to the preservation of the Dark Temple, and the minds and knowledge who rest. It is because of their diligent work that the spirits remain calm, and it is they who listen to the whispers of the dead, so that they may inform the living.

I know you have questions, reader.

Patience.

All will be revealed soon.

It is for these reasons, and because of this history, that the Temple of the Dark Lords remains one of the most important landmarks on Dromund Kaas. Distinguished nobles of all families know that it is the Dark Temple where they will one day be buried, and where their spirits will join the march of the dead.

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF DRELLIK, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF KNOWLEDGE

If there is a single family who best exemplifies the High Nobility, it is almost certainly House Drellik, which had been a longstanding member of the Imperial Aristocracy well before the Dark Age. Talos himself was a lesser member in comparison; an archeologist within the Imperial Reclamation Service specializing in artifacts of the Force.

But he was still an aristocrat, and the environment was a natural one for him.

While Talos himself preferred direct work in the field, he, more than any of Nox’s disciples, possessed the aristocratic spirit that would eventually flavor the Order of Nox. An accomplished scholar, a practical field researcher, and with a mind for study and bureaucracy alike, Talos became instrumental in organizing Nox’s work within the Sphere of Mysteries, turning it into one of the largest archeological organizations in the galaxy.

However, he was also Nox’s connection to the Imperial bureaucracy and the Imperial elite, which allowed her to build, maintain, and employ political support within the Empire itself as her power base expanded. Talos proved as adept in advising her in matters of politics as he was in explaining to her an ancient relic of the Je’daii or rakata.

Talos was more oriented to the scholarly side of his talents, but the Great House that bears his name encompasses the totality of his experience. House Drellik are known as the scholars and archaeologists of Dromund Kaas, whose domain extends to all matters of history and the Force.

It is they who are charged with unearthing ancient knowledge, chronicling the story of the Order of Nox, and unraveling the remaining mysteries of the Force – and on Dromund Kaas, reader, there are more than you might think.

Yet in addition to all of this, Drellik is a very political family. They maintain a bureaucratic talent that allows them to administer their own lands effectively without relying on lesser nobles or the Beniko Seneschals. Something that House Beniko dislikes, but has little grounds to dispute.

Many in Drellik are as much politicians as scholars, they are interested in building connections throughout the Aristocracy, employing and withholding favors when appropriate, and forming alliances to achieve their ends. They know the dynamics of the Dromund Court exceptionally well, and are one of its most dangerous players as a result. They exert their influence in numerous places across the Dromund System, from directly in the Court, deals and arrangements with nobles themselves, or through groups that they control, such as the Prophets of the Dark Lords.

Notably, they are the strongest allies at present to the sitting Princess-Regent – though do not mistake this for altruism, in truth, she is a Drellik herself. Today, Drellik finds itself in a very strong position– and they are doubtless assessing how best to turn it to their advantage.

Their ambitions are high, and they will not settle for anything less than victory.

ON THE ANTIQUARIANS OF DRELLIK

Drellik’s history is rooted in the study of the artifacts of the Sith, the Jedi, and ultimately, the Force itself. This legacy is one Drellik has wholeheartedly embraced, and there remains much history buried across the Dromund System.

Drellik Antiquarians are responsible for the research, study, and care of all artifacts found on Dromund Kaas. Their repositories and museums are filled with everything from stone tablets to pieced-together writings of Sith Lords, as well as more recognizable artifacts such as lightsabers, holocrons, and armor.

They also handle objects touched by the Force whose origins are unknown, and thoroughly document all their findings in multiple forms of media – a relative rarity on Dromund Kaas. They are not, strictly speaking, scientists, but when it comes to the Force, they are considered the foremost academic body.

Do not scoff too hard, reader – the Antiquarians are a respected academic body in the Collective itself, no small feat considering their millennia-long isolation. They’ve also pieced together the most accurate histories of various Sith – known and unknown – who resided on Dromund Kaas.

So respected are they that other Orders in the Sith Collective have consulted with the Antiquarians, and even allowed them to study certain artifacts of their own, or compare findings. The Orders of Jadus, Vitiate, and Revan have engaged in such a capacity. Since their integration to the Collective, and access to modern technologies, they have expanded their capabilities and quality.

They do not discriminate when it comes to the Force – Sith, Jedi, Zakuulian, Quabular, they have an interest in all things related to the Force, even if their primary body of work concerns the Sith. More specifically, an Antiquarian is someone who specializes in a particular field of study or subfield – Antiquarians can specialize in certain Sith like Nox or Jadus, unique groups such as the Cult of Revan, or even locations of power such as the Kaas Force Nexus.

Generally, the larger the body of work is on a specific group or individual, the greater the likelihood that an Antiquarian will specialize in it. While often the Aristocracy does not have a great need for them, outside of the ones that chronicle the history of the Order of Nox itself, the body of knowledge they have amassed should not be understated.

Especially when it concerns more practical discoveries on how to employ the Force itself – knowledge which Drellik is sometimes inclined to keep to themselves.

ON THE SORCERERS OF DRELLIK

If one asked Talos Drellik if his descendants would have one day been able to wield the Force as many of the Sith he studied had, he would have been ecstatic, if surprised. The combination of innate talent and the use of esoteric rituals culminated in the Sorcerers of Drellik.

Admittedly, Drellik does not have many Force-sensitives, even fewer than House Revel – but all who are born into the family are expected to do great things. What they do depends on how powerful they are – those weaker in the Force will devote themselves to the Antiquarians.

Those of power become Sorcerers, and gain the ability to bend the Force in ways no other family can match.

One cannot overstate how much ancient knowledge Drellik has at their disposal. They have the relics and writings of many of the greatest Sith of the era. Do not forget that this was the capital of the Empire, and while Korriban was the ancestral heart of the Sith, even the sacred texts and writings had copies made and stored on Dromund Kaas.

Relics that are now in the possession of Drellik.

The power they are rumored to hold is extensive, reader. It is believed House Drellik has the knowledge of the Force Walker rituals that Nox herself employed. It is also rumored that some of Vitiate’s writings provide hints to the infamous Nathema Ritual. This is to say nothing of more obscure rituals that are known to decimate entire continents, exterminate armies, and render lands uninhabitable.

This, reader, is what the Sorcerers devote themselves to mastering.

Exactly what the Sorcerers are capable of is a subject of vigorous debate, yet what is known is that they are among the most powerful Force-users in the entire Order of Nox. They are masters of old and contemporary Sith Sorcery, and nearly all are committed to the dark side – as it should be.

There are a small few who attempt to learn what Jedi and Zakuulian rituals are known, but knowledge on those is far more scarce, and those Sorcerers who eschew the dark side often must develop their own rituals. However, one is more likely to find diverse study of the Force amongst the Antiquarians – not the Sorcerers.

This is a fine transition into one particular talent of the Sorcerers – they are not reliant on what has already been discovered, but actively work to research and develop their own complex rituals. It has resulted in them wielding powers in ways that have never been recorded – their secrets known only to them.

Sorcerers are rare within House Drellik, and considered the elite of the family for obvious reasons. This results in each possessing direct influence over family operations and decision-making. While they do not often emerge in public – barring the Deshyr who is nearly always the most powerful Sorcerer of Drellik – they are very involved in the political schemes of their family, and pull strings from behind the scenes.

Their sorcery has spawned a multitude of conspiracy theories and rumors – that Sorcerers can hijack minds, implant memories, and unknowingly create spies throughout the Aristocracy. Much of what surrounds the Sorcerers is fearmongering, which the High Nobility tends to ignore – but the reputation of the Sorcerers has stuck.

It is one that does serve Drellik in some capacity, and they are willing to lean on their reputation where appropriate.

They are never one to pass up a political advantage, after all.

ON THE PROPHETS OF THE DARK LORDS

The Temple of the Dark Lords falls under the custodianship of House Drellik, and one might assume that it falls to the Antiquarians to maintain it. While they certainly maintain a presence in the Dark Temple, in actuality, it is maintained by a dedicated group within Drellik known as the Prophets of the Dark Lords.

The Prophets are individuals who wear simple black robes, shroud their faces, and rarely carry weapons – but all are at least moderately strong in the Force. They exclusively tend to the grounds of the Dark Temple, and inhabit the Dark Temple at all times, barring their brief excursions when the Aristocracy has need of them.

They are aware of – or directly facilitate – everything that happens in the Dark Temple.

Be it communing with spirits, initiating death rites, or warding off visitors, the Prophets have an important role and place in the greater Order of Nox. They keep the spirits calm, commune with them regularly, and gather their wisdom, knowledge, and power before sharing it with House Drellik for dissemination.

The Prophets gained their name not because of any ability to predict the future, but rather because they consider themselves the mortal voice of the spirits. Each Prophet is an accomplished medium, and able to easily commune with the dead, be it through rituals or merely speaking to a manifested spirit.

A historical point of interest, reader, is that the Prophets were an organic development, and not originally planned by Drellik. Originally, it was indeed the Antiquarians who maintained custodianship, and over the decades, they came to this perspective of their own accord, and adopted a role similar to what the Prophets hold today. Initially, Drellik feared they had been possessed.

While many families would have taken… measures, Drellik instead saw value in their endeavors, and integrated them into the family as a wholly distinct sect.

Some within the Aristocracy question if the Prophets are truly controlled by Drellik, or if they are a dangerous cult that is de facto autonomous. The Prophets often insist on spreading the words of the deceased, and there are families who take this seriously. Some will occasionally ask a Prophet to communicate with a deceased ancestor buried in the Dark Temple and convey their words.

The more entrepreneurial amongst you might see how this would be open to abuse. Though profit is an amorphous concept when dealing with such esoteric sects.

The Prophets are viewed with a cautious respect by the High Nobility, despite a lingering suspicion that the Prophets have their own agenda. The influence of the Prophets is not traditionally political, but their words do have weight, and their power is also extensive.

They are an atypical group, one to acknowledge and be wary of simultaneously. The Prophets of the Dark Lords may not be inherently malicious, but one must tread cautiously around those who speak with spirits.

ON DESHYR HIDWAR DRELLIK, SORCERER SUPREME

There are many words you could use to describe Deshyr Hidwar Drellik. Sorcerer, politician, noble, charismatic. Most of them would be correct, as Hidwar’s manner and appearance cut an elegant, if stereotypical, aristocratic flair. However, each such description offers a different insight into who he is.

It can lead to incorrect assumptions – something the Deshyr knows full well.

Hidwar possesses significant, tangible power. Such that it can be felt in his presence, expressed as a subtle weight compressing the shoulders and chest. Nonetheless, he often downplays his talent in the Force, quite convincingly at that. Ah, a practiced silver tongue is the most dangerous appendage, dear reader.

Hidwar almost certainly possesses knowledge of numerous rituals of the dark side – likely inventing his own as well. Yet his power is not flaunted, if anything, he would prefer people not notice. A shrewd calculation, as a brute’s power – and weakness – is displayed for all to see, while the truly dangerous are hidden in plain sight.

Considering the macabre rumors surrounding what the Sorcerers are capable of, it is perhaps understandable that Hidwar would try to present a friendlier image. His robes are of lighter colors, his face is never hidden by a hood, and his natural charm and charisma is often enough to disarm those he speaks with.

Despite his accolades as a Sorcerer, it is better to understand him as a politician. One who is deceitful, ambitious, plotting, and determined.

I do not say any of this as an insult – merely to highlight the fact that Hidwar is one of the most politically-savvy and experienced actors within the Court. Moreover, he possesses the most formidable talent of any political operator: patience. He has spent decades steadily maneuvering House Drellik into a position of unprecedented power and influence.

An impressive feat, considering the historic dominance of Shan and Beniko within the Dromund Court.

The steady downfall of the Royal Family Beni’vel, and the death of Prince Arlon, has presented an opportunity, swiftly seized. The Princess-Regent is his granddaughter, and he has been using this familial connection to gain trust and support, and steadily maneuvered Drellik to being the strongest ally of the Royal Family, successfully pushing out Beniko.

Yet this is almost certainly a means to an end – for Hidwar believes that continued rule by Beni’vel has led to stagnation. He believes that between Drellik’s mastery of the Force, wealth of knowledge, and the insight from the Prophets, the Order of Nox deserves a new leader.

A family that is his, and a man that is him.

He is a competent, talented, and dangerous man whose political instincts and schemes rival the Shan in their complexity, giving them real competition for the first time in generations. Hidwar’s ultimate endgame, concerning what he might do should he succeed, is likely only known to him and a few trusted Sorcerers.

It is no secret that he sees himself as Nox’s true successor, and with the rituals at his disposal, one cannot discount the possibility that he will emulate her in a more… direct manner. No one since Nox has attempted to utilize the Force Walker ritual, and bind spirits in a similar way.

It is possible that Hidwar intends to break this taboo, especially if he intends to take… measures should his influence over Beni’vel be threatened. The utilization of such a ritual would be a dangerous gambit – but if he could indeed contain the power, history shows us what Nox was capable of.

If the Aristocracy would accept such a turn of fate is uncertain. Yet it’s plausibility cannot be discounted or denied – destiny waits for no one, especially when individuals believe they are owed such power and authority.

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF XALEK, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF DEATH

If there exists a pariah among the High Nobility, it would almost certainly be House Xalek. Their Sphere of Custodianship does not mince words when it comes to their authority and power. Their role is death, no more or less.

Xalek is perhaps the most insular family of the High Nobility, tending to their own affairs first and foremost, while eschewing traditional Court politics. This is not to imply they are apolitical – but they do not see themselves as political leaders or schemers. Rather, they are the blades and lethal retribution of the Court, and the High Nobility, as a whole.

It is they who manage the messy necessities of rule that the other nobles dislike sullying their hands with. This is why they rarely involve themselves in the myriad schemes at Court. Thus, death is their calling, and through its application, they ensure the grip of the Aristocracy over the Order of Nox remains strong.

House Xalek continues the lineage of Xivhkalrainik – known to history as ‘Xalek the First,’ who served as Nox’s personal assassin. He was a powerful wielder of the Force, and skilled in its employment to shroud, infiltrate, and assassinate. All of within House Xalek are trained in some form of the shadow arts, as all of them are Force-sensitive, though the individual potency varies. Statistically speaking, universal sensitivity is unlikely to be a natural occurrence… make of that what you will.

The kaleesh population on Dromund Kaas has sustained itself through the centuries thanks almost solely to the efforts of House Xalek, whose success has been so extensive that today there are several kaleesh noble families who can trace their lineage to Xalek. Notably, the kaleesh are one of the only species whose members number as nobles without exception. There are no kaleesh of the Commonwealth. There are no failures, outcasts, or disgraced – as they are killed before Xalek would suffer the shame of one of their own joining the ranks of commoners.

The Sphere of Death that they hold custodianship over pertains to the reach of the Court and Royal Family to act as sovereigns over Dromund Kaas. Should the Dromund Court demand the death of an individual for any reason, it will fall to Xalek.

Such is their desire. Such is their calling. Such is their lineage.

They make examples of those who challenge the Aristocracy, those who seek to undermine it from within and without. They hunt and exterminate without mercy. They execute and murder as demanded. Their hands are stained with blood, and their reputation inspires terror and loathing – they would have it no other way.

There is a diverse range of viewpoints, as it pertains to the Force, amongst the High Nobility – House Xalek has no such division. They are wielders of the dark side, now and forever.

Just as it should be.

ON THE SHADOW HAND OF XALEK

Wearing the famed and feared bone masks of white, over which are cloaks and hoods of obsidian that cover their heads, the Shadow Hand of Xalek is the enigmatic group that rules the family itself, and executes the will of the Court.

Rarely are they identifiable by sight alone. Each member of the Shadow Hand wears only a simple black robe with an obscuring hood. Their bone masks are devoid of any markings. Their only visible weapon is a double-bladed lightsaber – though they often hide an assortment of smaller knives and blades on their person.

But few will even notice these basic details, for that implies the Shadow Hand will let themselves be seen at all.

They are masters in the art of subterfuge and infiltration. They bend the Force to render themselves invisible to the naked eye, or affect the minds of the living to simply forget their presence. The most powerful of the Shadow Hand are said to have a presence so strong it actively erases them from the perceptions of weaker minds.

They are assassins first and foremost; hunters and predators with few peers. An invisible, encompassing hand of death that has no other purpose than to remove those who have earned the ire of the Court or Aristocracy – by an overt or subtle hand.

To call the Shadow Hand mere assassins does them a disservice. It implies a lack of skill, an absence of technique or guile. No, the Shadow Hand are not feared because their work is obvious – there are better options for such tasks. They are feared because it isn’t. For much of the prowess of the Shadow Hand is from speculation and rumor, as much as confirmed actions.

Does this mean their reputation may be exaggerated?

Perhaps.

But would you take that chance?

The Shadow Hand can and has been used to send a clear message to the enemies of the Aristocracy and the Royal Family. They are primarily directed against Nobles who have become a bit too ambitious or clever for their own good, or other traitors within the Court. Their talents are often not employed against the rabble-rousing commoners – though there are rumors that the Shadow Hand has acted against non-nobles at times.

It is also speculated that the Shadow Hand has more than a few of their number off-world, spying and watching various targets. Though if this is at the direction of the Court, or an initiative by House Xalek itself is difficult to say. Never forget that they have their own agendas, even if they are private.

With the backing of the Court, their resources to engineer the perfect death are extensive, and they exploit this advantage to the best of their ability. Even the Assassins of the Order of Nihilus have expressed their admiration for the techniques and professionalism employed.

The usage of the Shadow Hand, especially among those not inherently dissident, is an oft-debated and controversial topic of conversation, even within the Dromund Court. Officially, the Shadow Hand is only used against the enemies of the Royal Family and Dromund Court. Unofficially, more than a few wonder how House Xalek is truly utilizing their master assassins.

A question, reader, that is perhaps best left to the imagination – for we know that Xalek is unlikely to share the truth willingly.

ON THE EXECUTIONERS OF XALEK

If the Shadow Hand is the blade in the dark, the Executioners are employed without ambiguity. They are the mailed fist of the Order of Nox, those who are sent to arrest or execute on the spot those who would challenge or dissent.

Some might call them a kind of law enforcement, but that is not representative of their role. They are not law enforcement or peacekeepers – they are, as their name highlights, executioners. In the earliest days of the Order, their name was more ambiguous and idealistic – they were Judges. Later, this was changed to reflect reality, as Xalek is a pragmatic house with little use for melodrama.

They are often among the most physically capable of House Xalek, and are defined by their weapon of choice: a long-bladed vibroblade they carry at all times. Their bone masks are marked with family and personal symbols. Armor of black and silver covers their bodies, and they are often equipped with blaster pistols or explosives as secondary weapons.

While the Shadow Hand is usually dispatched against nobles who have erred, the Executioners most often deal with upstarts and dissidents in the Commonwealth, where no delicacy need be employed. If there are ever any rebellions, strikes, or open defiance of any noble family, the resolution of such calamity will undoubtedly fall to the Executioners.

Their only restriction is that they must receive an invitation from the respective family – something that is easily given, for few wish to parley with the rabble. When the Executioners come, there is no negotiation conducted. No requests for surrender are given. No offers of leniency.

That is not what they are for. They are the bloodied hammer of the Aristocracy, and order will be restored through wanton violence.

They are among the most hated and feared of any of the High Nobility by much of the Commonwealth, especially within the lands directly administered by Xalek where they openly patrol the streets alongside Beniko Peacekeepers.

The Executioners are well aware of their reputation, and it does not bother them in the slightest. Indeed, they revel in it. An acklay does not concern itself with the opinions of lemnai. That some nobles, even the High Nobility, actively do not associate with them is a mark of pride.

Pray you do not draw their attention; else you may find yourself on the other end of their weapons.

ON TERYN NYRMA XALEK, FIRST KNIFE OF THE SHADOW HAND

House Xalek has always been directed by the leader of the Shadow Hand, who is bestowed the title of First Knife, and understood to be the most proficient and powerful of the Xalek assassins. Each leader is expected to be just as worthy and capable as Xalek the First was in his service to Nox – a standard House Xalek has strictly held themselves to for millennia.

Teryn Nyrma Xalek is, like many leaders of the family, one of the most shrouded and unknown members of the High Nobility – cloaked in rumors and speculation rather than fact. No one outside Xalek knows exactly how she rose to become the First Knife, but she commands authority and deference from the others that cannot be merely bestowed – only earned.

Her skills in the Force are extensive. While she will often attend the various engagements the Court holds, she can often be found in the shadows, observing and studying, letting herself fade into the background with few the wiser before slipping away seamlessly only to reappear the following night.

She is the only member of the Shadow Hand whose bone mask is marked with the blood-red patterns that identify House Xalek – and directly echo the markings of Xalek the First. This exception only exists for the First Knife, who is no longer expected to carry out the work of the Shadow Hand, even if they are expected to keep themselves sharp. She wears nothing more than the standard outfit of the Shadow Hand, with her lightsaber never out of reach.

If one wishes to gain the assistance of the House Xalek, it is done through her. She personally meets and ratifies agreements and treaties with all noble families, pertaining to the usage of the Shadow Hand and Executioners, as well as the Court itself. For this reason, her patronage and approval are sought after, even while she is viewed with wariness and fear even among the High Nobility.

With how extensively Xalek is embedded throughout the Aristocracy thanks to these agreements, there has always been suspicions about the ambitions of the family, as they have kept themselves removed from the ever-present political spats that arise at Court. Nonetheless, their web of influence is extensive – should they ever decide to leverage it.

Thus far, they have not, and it appears that Nyrma is content to maintain this status quo. If she holds any greater ideas or ambitions, they are known only to her.

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF ZAVROS, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF LIGHT

We come to a family of certain distinction within the Order of Nox – House Zavros.

They stand out within the Aristocracy for several reasons. The first – and perhaps the most important – is that they are the only family of the High Nobility which explicitly eschews the politics and intrigue of the Dromund Court. Instead, they asserted their duty was towards promoting the harmony and security of the Order of Nox and the Aristocracy.

In comparison, their own political aspirations were unimportant.

As a result, they effectively function as an apolitical party within the Aristocracy. Officially, they are neutral on all political matters, and hold loyalty solely to the Royal Family of Beni’vel. While they hold seats in the Court, they abstain as a matter of principle – unless directed by the Royal Family, generally on matters that affect the entire Order.

They are the only other family of the High Nobility that is dominated by a single non-human species – while not all togruta on Dromund Kaas are part of Zavros, a majority are, and all togruta-majority nobility is connected in some way to them. However, they are not purely togruta, as there is a human minority within the family.

Their political reach is practically nonexistent. The schemes, plots, and intrigue that dominates the Court is not only against their nature, it is outright forbidden by their family creed. It is essential for the roles they perform that they are perceived to be unbiased – that they maintain the trust of those who seek their intervention, mediation, and judgment.

Practically speaking, this is why Zavros distinguishes itself.

The second reason is that they are Jedi.

A bold accusation, reader, but you doubtless wonder if it is true.

I confess to some hyperbole – but only some. It is unclear how the modern Jedi Order would interpret House Zavros, though they likely wouldn’t call them ‘Sith’ out of hand.

It is more accurate to say that they are descended of Jedi, and take inspiration from the tenets and beliefs of the Jedi Order – the one that was contemporary with the Eternal Empire.

Traditional Jedi, they were not, and there is a certain misconception that these Jedi who worked with Nox resembled those of the Old Republic. This is not, strictly speaking, true. While they certainly were originally more traditional Jedi, by the end of Zakuul’s conquest, tens of thousands of Jedi were dead, hundreds were driven underground and scattered, and any Jedi leader of note was dead.

The Jedi who were left often had little more than a lightsaber at their side – and an enemy slowly enveloping them.

Like any precious jewel, these Jedi were placed under pressure – where they either broke and died, or hardened themselves to the harsh galaxy they found themselves in. I would not say they fell, as Jedi oft claim when any deviate from their dogma, but they changed. Weary, hardened, pragmatic.

The false idealism the Jedi preached, already fading as war against the Sith Empire progressed, was ultimately shattered once Zakuul invaded and occupied their homes. The Hero of Tython had died to their Emperor. The Barsen’thor had left the Order. The Jedi Council was killed by Zakuul. There were few choices.

They could struggle for an Order that was dead, or they could adapt.

So they did.

It was no longer the Sith who were carrying out assassinations, organizing insurgencies, and hijacking ships for weapons and supplies – it was bands of Jedi, many of whom were acting independently of each other, who orchestrated a thousand rebellions across a thousand worlds.

Their tenacity and conviction are worth acknowledging. And slowly, as insurgencies spread, and rebel groups contacted each other, this new breed of Jedi began to regroup – and eventually, one emerged to become their leader. In the absence of the masters of old, one Ashara Zavros rose to prominence – a Jedi who had worked directly with Darth Nox throughout her rise and even afterwards.

The exact relationship Ashara and Nox had is a subject of much speculation – for Ashara masqueraded as a Sith while she was with Nox, but even a short conversation would reveal someone who was distinctly different to Nox. It is believed that Nox wished to turn her to the dark side – but surprisingly, failed in this task.

A rare time where the Dark Councilor was denied. It can be said that Nox helped influence and shape Ashara’s mindset on certain philosophies concerning the Force – but Ashara never wavered from defining herself as a Jedi. A more pragmatic Jedi than most, which played a role in surviving Zakuul, but a Jedi nonetheless.

Ashara was noted by Jedi and non-Jedi alike as not being a particularly powerful user of the Force, yet she possessed a single-minded focus and will that no one could bend or break.

She is seen within the Order of Nox, and specifically House Zavros, as the ideal Jedi. A Knight whose conviction was iron, her mind was sharp, and her loyalty unquestioned. It did not matter that Ashara did not fully agree with Nox – she followed her to the very end, and trusted her to lead them to victory.

Her legacy is celebrated to this day, and is one House Zavros has emulated to the best of their ability.

House Zavros is perceived to be a successor to the Jedi Order – but they are better understood as a reinterpretation of the Jedi – specifically, one birthed from the mind of Ashara herself. An Order built around order rather than righteousness, which utilizes power rather than shirks it, whose commitment is to justice rather than forgiveness.

They are without question aligned to the light side of the Force, but one must be cautious in viewing them through too narrow a lens. They hold important roles within the Order and Aristocracy – and while they might not be overtly political, do not mistake this for lacking influence.

If a Zavros speaks, few will spurn their counsel.

ON THE ARBITERS OF ZAVROS

Disputes are not uncommon within the Aristocracy. To expect continual harmony is naïve – whether they are of the lesser nobility, or the higher. Attempting to prevent disputes is a losing battle – instead, what matters is how these disputes are resolved in a system that enables the Aristocracy.

The Arbiters are this solution.

These individuals manage what functions as a combination of judicial court and mediation body, one that exists solely to mediate and rule on the numerous cases brought to them from the Aristocracy, each seeking a resolution in their favor.

In most conventional noble systems, the courts and those who run them are hardly independent entities. Often, the outcome is known before the case is even heard. As a result, the respective nobility is incentivized to resolve disputes in more direct ways without bothering to involve a so-called third party at all.

The Order of Nox does not have this problem.

Zavros has been highlighted as the closest thing to an apolitical group within the High Nobility – and because of this, they are the only ones who can fulfill this kind of position and have it be accepted not just by the nobles at large, but the High Nobility and the Royal Family as well.

Ashara Zavros herself stated that if they were to assume this responsibility, no one would be above their decisions, not even the Royal Family.

The Zavros Arbiters are among the most prestigious positions in the Order of Nox, and particularly within House Zavros. To call them legal experts would be an incomplete summary of their capabilities. They do not rule solely on the law – for that matters little to the Aristocracy – but also possess a comprehensive understanding of inter-noble dynamics, histories, and inclinations of those who bring disputes before them.

They must understand these dynamics, for that is the only way they can rule in a way that is considered fair and acceptable to all parties. Zavros Arbiters do not have the luxury of relying on a comprehensive legal code, because a majority of disputes are not legal in nature, but rather a mixture of accusations, political ploys, and schemes that nobles bring against each other to undermine the other – or to protect themselves from being undermined.

The job of the Arbiter is as much to mediate and calm as it is to rule. Often their judgments are never fully in favor of one side or another, but elaborate compromises that are designed less to mete out total justice, than to resolve the dispute in such a way that tensions are calmed, stability is maintained, and schisms are healed before they can fester.

It is in no small part thanks to the Arbiters that the Aristocracy has been able to function for millennia without fracturing into rebellions or violent schisms. That there has been no major civil war or insurrection is not due to pure chance or the iron hand of Nox – it is because there is a lack of animosity amongst peers that is fostered by the Arbiters.

They have successfully built their reputation as a fair and impartial actor which is not just interested in justice, but prioritizes reconciliation. The Arbiters hold a rare position in the Order of Nox, one that demands years of study and apprenticeship before being recognized and accepted into their ranks.

While Arbiters are not even remotely militantly inclined, Force-users will construct ornate lightsabers with silver focusing crystals that they receive some basic instruction in. Their outfits are similarly white, orange, and blue, the colors of House Zavros.

Rarely will you find universal agreement at Court, but there are few, if any, who would deny the judicial authority of an Arbiter. That in and of itself is notable.

ON THE KNIGHTS OF ZAVROS

While the Arbiters hold a more consequential role in the context of the wider Order of Nox, it is the Knights who have become the defining icon of House Zavros – due to their prevalence throughout the Dromund System. Most reminiscent of the Jedi Knights of the Old Republic, these are understood to be the soldiers and warriors of the family.

This is, at best, an incomplete description.

The Knights of Zavros are formally charged with the protection of the Court and its members. In the event of a conflict, they would assume whatever role best reflects their capabilities within the defensive structure of the Order. They would become officers, commanders, and generals as necessary. They would assume leadership positions within the levies raised by the Aristocracy, and there are numerous contingencies that plan for this exact scenario – ones that the Knights hope to never execute.

They are all Force-users without exception, drilled and trained relentlessly from youth, though there is no universal standardization imposed on them concerning how their powers and skills manifest. Each Knight is unique in how they choose to fight, and what discipline they orient towards. Some Knights study tactics and grand strategy, others hone their martial skills to a fine edge. Still more strike a middle ground to round themselves out.

They also serve in roles that directly protect and develop the Nobles themselves. Knights can serve as bodyguards, wardens, and sometimes instructors for members of the Aristocracy and their children. Rarely is any notable member of the High Nobility not seen with their Zavros bodyguard, or young Nobles with a warden who doubles as their instructor.

It need not be mentioned that the Aristocracy is often uncomfortable placing their children in the care of another family – especially the High Nobility. There is only one exception to this rule: the Zavros Knights. They are the only noble family that can be trusted to not only protect themselves or their children without question – but also not interfere or be involved in a Court scheme to influence or manipulate.

Knights reflect the apolitical stance of Zavros – an easy task, as House Zavros has no schemes or plans to execute in the first place. This does not, however, mean that the Knights do not have some influence over their charges. Over time, it is not uncommon for their advice or insight to be willingly solicited, and, intentional or not, Knights will influence the views of their charges.

It is worth highlighting that this ‘influence’ does not necessarily translate to political outcomes, but is more philosophically-driven in nature. Knights are driven by their commitment and devotion to the mission of their family, which is to protect, defend, and support the Order of Nox. Selfishness and personal ambition are never a driving motivation – which is a perspective Nobles rarely encounter elsewhere.

Sometimes a Noble’s interest is piqued, and they will adopt a mindset more reminiscent of a Knight in response.

Respect these warriors, reader. They are without question some of the most dangerous and powerful individuals in the Order of Nox – and in the event of war, it will be they who plan and strategize. Treat them with the caution you would have for any militant Jedi, for while these warriors may bear the blades and legacy of the Jedi, they are hewn from a thicker, darker cloth.

They are trained in war – and have been preparing for it for a very long time.

ON TERYN AZUAYE ZAVROS, GRAND ARBITER OF THE COURT

There are some individuals who are destined to rise above the forgettable and inconsequential. Many a family head has risen to their station, and performed adequately – but little more. They are only remembered by history books – if that – having failed to make an impression beyond a tired endurance of the status quo.

None can say this about Teryn Azuaye Zavros, who currently serves as the Grand Arbiter of the Court.

Approaching nearly one hundred years of age, Azuaye has been an icon of the Dromund Court longer than many of its current members have been alive. She has served under three separate Sovereigns, and led House Zavros for over three-quarters of her life. She met many of the Court’s current members when they were children, and there are few others who not only understand the dynamics of the Court, but the people who comprise it on a personal level.

Few are as charming as she is; a socialite without peers, who even at her age is one of the first to arrive at the banquets, and one of the last to leave. It is a fascinating experience to watch the ease by which she speaks with others – be it individually, or in small groups. She is never too short, never too long, and brings each conversation to a graceful and elegant end – quite reflective of the woman herself.

Despite her age, she possesses the energy of a much younger woman, and she has shown no indication that she will be passing the mantle to another anytime soon, even if some successors are rumored. Frankly, many at Court are uncertain she could be replaced.

She is one of the most respected and trusted nobles alive – it is unlikely even the incoming Sovereign will be able to match her in popularity initially. Her career is equally impressive – having arbitrated tens of thousands of disputes, which she still regularly does, ruling with her particularly conciliatory style.

There have been others, myself included, who attempt to view and study her through a lens of cynicism and calculation to understand her motivation and mindset. This has failed to provide satisfying answers, for the simple reason that there is no secret or conspiracy to find.

She genuinely is interested in fairness, stability, and reconciliation for the Aristocracy. It is not a front to gain influence, nor are the relationships and friendships she has forged across the Aristocracy means to ends. There is nothing that is false about her – she is exactly who she portrays herself as.

As a result, she may be the single most alien thing at Court.

She commands authority and influence that few other nobles can rival – yet none of them believe for a moment that she would turn it against them. She is perhaps the best leader Zavros could possess; one who embodies their greatest virtues without apology or complaint.

When the day of her passing comes, it will leave a hole that can never be truly filled. Until then, she will continue her service, much to the relief of all members of the Order of Nox.

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF REVEL, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF STARS

Much of the High Nobility descends from a lineage of prestige or power. Jedi, Sith, Republic, Imperial, there are few who would deny the pedigree of their right to rule and power. Yet there is one major exception to this rule – and it is House Revel.

Unlike the respectable lineages of the other Great Houses, Revel descends from pirates, scavengers, and criminals. They are the last group that one would expect to hold claim to any noble power, but these people forget a very simple rule: power is power, and it does not discern who wields it.

Is it wrong that such a family possesses this power?

Wrong by what metric, dear reader? That they come from degenerate criminals and thieves? As if the crimes of petty vagabonds compare to what the Sith have inflicted in the past, or plan to in the future.

I find some amusement in those who pretend that Revel holding power is a kind of scandal; for it is the only time where they pretend to hold law and life sacrosanct. Please, are we moralizers like the Jedi? Or do we acknowledge and respect power wherever it is found?

Power does not discriminate, nor is it only in the hands of the so-called worthy, useless as that label is. Steel yourself against these internal hypocrisies, for before long they blind you to the truth, and stifle your growth like you wear a wroshyr trunk around your neck.

Now, let us briefly discuss this infamous criminal.

Andronikos Revel was many things. A captain, a pilot, an organizer, a murderer, an avenger – but above all of that he was a pirate. One who raided who he pleased as he hunted down those who had betrayed him previously.

He had a small fleet of loyalists at his command, a network of suppliers and agents throughout the numerous criminal groups in the Outer Rim, and was a master pilot who could fly with the best the galaxy had to offer.

When his path crossed with Darth Nox, it was initially a means to an end for them both. Andronikos had information, Nox had credits – in exchange for his help, Nox promised to help him settle a score.

This mutual agreement proved the start of a long and continuous relationship. Both of them realized there was much they could offer the other, and both saw opportunity in a closer long-term agreement – in more ways than one.

In the employ of Nox, Andronikos was able to expand his reputation and reach, as he was no longer a small-time pirate, but became one the most infamous pirate commodores that roamed the Outer Rim. He was embedded with every black market and criminal group in operation.

He leveraged this to both enrich himself and his people – and also strengthen Nox’s own power base and weaken her enemies. Andronikos offered her a private supply network to easily outfit her people, an avenue of deniable operations to send against rivals, and a revenue source of millions of black-market credits.

Andronikos might have been blind to the Force, but he possessed a resolve and intelligence that Nox admired. He also gained the romantic attraction of Nox for a brief period – even siring a child with her – before an amicable separation.

He survived the initial invasion of the Eternal Empire by going into hiding for a brief period, but he did not stay idle for long, and in due course, he committed his resources to assisting Lana Beniko in her ‘Alliance Against Zakuul,’ and later to Nox herself, following her rescue.

As one of the last major figures of the criminal underworld, his array of pirates, smugglers, and criminals became the lifeblood of the Alliance, especially in the early days when guerilla warfare dominated strategy, and there was no central supply chain.

By war’s end, Andronikos was no longer running paltry smuggling rings or black markets – he effectively created an unconventional, but highly flexible, supply chain that was able to ensure the Alliance factions across the galaxy, from Coruscant to Mandalore, were supplied with just what they needed.

It is thanks to Andronikos and his people that Nox’s disciples were able to reconstitute on Dromund Kaas as quickly as they did – with services restored, goods distributed, and order established. House Revel continues his legacy, a lineage that is hardly noble – but which enabled survival.

The decision to elevate Revel in such a way was not uncontroversial – especially since Andronikos himself was baffled it was even a consideration. He had little interest in being elevated, yet he was willing to accept it out of duty to Nox – the only person he’d ever obeyed without question.

Despite assuming this position, House Revel has never really embraced their status or been entirely comfortable with it like the other High Nobles. They are among the most independent and disjointed of the High Nobility regarding their internal organization – with a lack of overt centralization and hierarchy endemic to the other Great Houses.

But as they did during Nox’s time, Revel maintains the lifeblood of the Order of Nox: its supply chains and trade routes. They are responsible for making sure the Dromund System is supplied with everything that is needed, and each of the territories is well-stocked and organized. They are also notably on the forefront of what passes for technological development and research.

It is Revel who makes sure the machines and starships the Order uses are properly maintained, as no other family understands engineering and mechanics better than they do. Simply put, without House Revel, it is unlikely that the Order of Nox would be able to sustain itself as it has, let alone remain united for so long.

They are a far more unusual family than the others of the High Nobility, and express their interests and plans far differently than conventional politicking within the Court. They are the black nerf of the Aristocracy, even more than Zavros – a status many of them take pride in.

Of all of the High Nobility, it is Revel who have the closest relationships with their Commonwealths – which are based less on noble stratification, and more on peer-to-peer respect. Even Zavros, who generally treats the Commonwealth well, maintains a certain distance, and makes it clear there is a certain hierarchy of authority. This is often disregarded within Revel, and it is not uncommon for Revel Nobles to deal with commoners directly for one reason or another.

Many of the High Nobility underestimate Revel, and even Nobles are comfortable snubbing or ignoring them as they pursue their own interests. Such may be a risky proposition, for it assumes that Revel does not understand the power they hold throughout the Order of Nox.

They know, reader – of that I can assure you.

And those who ignore or disparage them best pray they do not learn the extent of their errors.

ON THE MACHINE-MASTERS OF REVEL

The name of this particular group in House Revel is one I believe to be… incomplete.

The Machine-Masters hold a high-ranking position among House Revel – not especially uncommon, but not simply handed out. They are typically understood to be roaming or stationed mechanics that are responsible for ensuring that the technology of the Order of Nox remains in working order.

This is of course true – but that is not all a Machine-Master is. Revel has many mechanics without this title, and other noble families tend to have a small mechanic corps.

If you come from outside Dromund Kaas, I am not sure you would believe the vast array of knowledge and experience that each Machine-Master possesses. Most mechanics specialize in one kind of technology or another, for that alone is enough for a lifetime of work. Repairing a starship is far different from repairing an electrical grid, for example. This principle tends to hold true even in the Order of Nox.

But due to the smaller number of mechanics, this cannot be all the Order of Nox relies on.

Machine-Masters are called such for a reason. Through some formal education, but mostly through experience, there is very little that the Machine-Masters cannot diagnose, if not repair, concerning all things technological. They come from apprenticeship programs that begin when the child hits their tenth birthday, and for the next decade shadow a Machine-Master across the Dromund System, gaining significant practical experience.

By the time they are ready to become full Machine-Masters themselves, they have been exposed to nearly every issue and piece of equipment that they could expect in the Dromund System. They are never without their personal array of tools, and can quickly identify issues – as well as improvise to fix them with limited resources.

Truthfully, they put many ‘traditional’ mechanics to shame, and almost certainly understand the technologies better than their creators did. Yet this only captures a fraction of what the Machine-Masters do. They are also responsible for driving the technological progress of the Order of Nox.

Several Machine-Masters oversee teams that do nothing but study and reverse-engineer technology brought from outside, or reconstruct it utilizing seized or stolen schematics and manuals.

Sometimes they run experiments to see if they can complete or alter a schematic with just materials found on Dromund Kaas. It is a significant amount of testing, trial, and error – but this kind of research has been instrumental in modernizing House Revel, and the Order as a whole.

While there are not many universities on Dromund Kaas, the Machine-Masters have put together curriculums with basic information and troubleshooting which have been distributed to the Aristocracy, as well as taught some engineering and mechanics classes at the request of some families.

It is fair to say that the Machine-Masters are a major reason why the Order has managed to slowly modernize over time – as well as not regress technologically. They possess an intimate understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, advantages, and limitations of the technology at their disposal.

No matter what any noble thinks of Revel, they are always respectful to the Machine-Masters, as without them, centuries of progress would wither to ruin.

ON THE PATHFINDERS OF REVEL

If there are individuals within House Revel who do not want to end up organizing the factories, serving on fleets, or operating as mechanics, they end up as one of the Pathfinders – following in the footsteps of Andronikos Revel himself.

A Pathfinder is a distinguished position within House Revel, both because it is a rare position requiring apprenticeship to an experienced Pathfinder, and because the few Force-sensitives within Revel tend to become Pathfinders, as it is the role best suited to their enhanced capabilities.

This is not to imply there are no Force-users elsewhere in House Revel, but if one has the Force, it is more acceptable to employ it in a more… practical manner.

A Pathfinder is often poorly summarized as an explorer; a scout, if one wishes to use a more militarized term. I would counter this presumption by saying a Pathfinder is, first and foremost, an adventurer – if such romantic terms remain acceptable. Appropriate or not, I do not know if there is a more apt term for what they do.

A Pathfinder does not hold a single role or have a singular purpose. They are master hunters and trackers; survivors who willingly vacation deep in the jungles of Dromund Kaas. They are expert pilots, and cartographers of the planets and systems alike. When the Order of Nox needs to learn of the unknown regions of world and space, they go to the Pathfinders.

Pathfinders are independent and run their own outfits, which range from single-man operations, to commanding small flotillas that support their expeditions across Dromund Kaas and the wider galaxy. I will note, reader, that the Pathfinders are the ones who have gone into the galaxy the most. Many leave the Dromund System, go into the Outer Rim and sometimes beyond, and return with weapons, technologies, or information that is distributed to the appropriate parties within the Order of Nox.

Many, though, remain within the Dromund System, as no one knows the intricacies and dynamics of the worlds better than them. Be it conducting rescue operations for someone who wandered too far, hunting down dissidents who try to hide in the forests, or terminating a particularly dangerous beast, there is plenty of work for the Pathfinders within the Dromund System.

While they are technically under the Revel Deshyr’s authority, this is more symbolic than official, and in keeping with the norms of House Revel, Pathfinders are expected to manage their own operations competently, and in a way that doesn’t harm family interests. If they do this, they can expect consistent autonomy.

Pathfinders are expected to prioritize directives from House Revel, but will otherwise work across Dromund Kaas, providing their services to noble and Commonwealth alike. This sometimes perturbs the local nobility, but at this point, they have learned to accept it.

No matter the region one goes to across Dromund Kaas or Fels, there are always a few Pathfinders hanging around ready and able to work. If you can afford their services, they are generally willing to provide them.

They are intelligent and effective survivalists – a group not to be underestimated. A final interesting note is that no one in Revel uses a lightsaber. Force-sensitive or not, Pathfinders prefer to rely on a good blaster at their side, rather than the more traditional tools of the Order.

ON DESHYR TELU REVEL, MASTER MACHINIST

There is a certain perception among the Aristocracy that House Revel does not conduct politics well, and certain stereotypes have emerged as a result. Most would be hard-pressed to say that Deshyr Telu Revel challenges these assumptions even a little bit – something that goes both ways.

Without question one the smartest men alive on Dromund Kaas, the nominal leader of the Machine-Masters, and subsequently, House Revel, is a generally mild, unassuming person who maintains a faint demeanor of nobility in his dealings with the Court. It is not unreasonable to imagine that he would prefer to be anywhere other than at Court.

This is not incorrect.

When he is not in the Court, Telu can usually be found in his workshop reverse-engineering an obscure technology, or in his office reading the latest engineering reports, scientific journals hijacked from the HoloNet, or schematics appropriated or created. He is an avid consumer of all things engineering, and that is not just because of technical interest.

He has plans. He has ideas.

While he may eschew traditional nobility, he best embodies the Revel approach to politics. Instead of wasting time engaging in schemes, or flattering with lies – where he knows he is outclassed by Drellik, Shan, and Beniko – he instead knows where he can directly influence.

Primarily through deals and trade.

There is much to say about the Shan Spynet or the administrative dominance of Beniko, but there are curiously few who take into account the myriad of supply chains, trade agreements, and sales that House Revel maintains and builds throughout the Dromund System. Revel keeps the Order of Nox running, and that is thanks to on-the-ground activities organized between Revel representatives and the Aristocracy at all levels.

Amusingly, no one thinks that Revel knows the influence they possess as a result. This influence may not necessarily be with the leaders of the noble families directly, but mostly with the subordinates. They talk to each other, and certain ideas can filter up and influence their betters.

Telu is well-aware of this fact, but has a more direct way of executing his plans without even needing to engage in such long-term subtlety – bypassing it altogether.

Ever since the Order of Nox joined the Sith Collective, and the galaxy was once more opened up, House Revel has sought to take advantage. Telu has assessed that the Order of Nox has stagnated for long enough – it must be modernized, and he has little patience doing it through the Court. Endless debate and noble jockeying would retard the growth potential of the entire Order.

Instead, he propagates modernization through this trade network. Slowly, surely, agreements are altered and renegotiated, new products are sold, and the overall technological level of the Order rises over the course of several years – without any official acknowledgement or input from the Court. Telu has sent more Pathfinders than ever into the galaxy to learn and return with the latest technologies and methods – as he strategizes how best to incorporate them into the Order.

This self-driven modernization project is one he has accelerated in recent years as he believes that the Order of Nox is at a severe disadvantage within the Collective, while remaining too isolated from the galaxy. If the nobles continue to ignore or dismiss him, that is fine by him, because he has already begun making a difference on the ground level.

He understands his limitations, of course – he is constrained by what he can produce within the Dromund System, and even optimistically his project is generational. Nonetheless, his factories are beginning to approach what can pass for a modern standard, and eventually will be able to scale appropriately.

If he will achieve a critical mass before the reckoning comes is unknown – but all can be certain that he is going to try.

The High Nobility should be grateful he is using his influence to strengthen the Order, instead of undermining it – for he is more than capable of both.

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF SHAN, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF SHADOWS

In the era of the Old Republic, the Shan bloodline was one of the most powerful in the galaxy, and perhaps the only substantial lineage of note within the Jedi Order, whose policies and detachment prevented the formation of any great bloodlines. Yet this one endured, descended from Revan and Bastila Shan themselves, their descendants without exception wielded great power and influence throughout the Jedi Order.

While few of them were necessarily the most exemplary of the Jedi, they were nonetheless figures of note within the Order, whose presence the Jedi and Republic could and did rally behind.

Yet even the greatest of bloodlines fade without care, and the Shan bloodline was no exception. Their loyalty and devotion to the Jedi, who saw their continued lineage as a violation of what they believed in, would falter. Never large to begin with, it would take only one descendent to bring it to an end if they so choose.

Such was inevitable, and Satele Shan was the last Shan of any note. While she held the rank of Grand Master of the Jedi Order, she nonetheless fell to the blades of the Eternal Empire as Tython was subjugated under the Eternal Throne.

And that, most believe, was the end.

Satele was the first Jedi of the lineage who fully embraced the shackles of Jedi detachment, and eschewed emotion, spouse, and children. She chose a commitment to the values and tenants of the Order – or so the Jedi would have us believe. Satele was no saint in this matter, as she had a secret relationship and a child.

Yet exposing such hypocrisy was unacceptable. She had a role, she had a reputation, she had a mission – and if her impropriety came to light, all of it might be threatened. Thus, she abandoned the child, and kept pristine the Shan name.

Such a selfish, ruthless choice that almost reminds me of the Sith in its cruelty.

That the child lacked the talent for the Force that many of his ancestors possessed doubtless made the choice easier. Ironic, I think, that it is only because of this child that the Shan lineage continues at all.

A child who grew up using his meager talent to the best of his abilities, who managed to avoid the fate of his parent, and who learned to embrace the realms of shadows, lies, and espionage. There is little remarkable about Satele Shan, but her son, Theron, despite his meager connection to the Force, accomplished as much or more than she did.

From hunting and uprooting the Cult of Revan throughout the Republic ranks to commanding the intelligence apparatus of Nox’s Alliance and matching wits with the sharpest minds the Eternal Empire offered, it is unsurprising that Nox respected him – and he her.

He leaves a legacy that House Shan has embraced.

And one which is perhaps the most powerful of any of the High Nobility.

House Shan is viewed with trepidation, wariness, and caution – for theirs is a family not of powerful Force-users, or Jedi-adjacent – but of spymasters and secrets. They possess networks of contacts that are spread throughout the Dromund System – within the Commonwealth and Aristocracy itself. They command what amounts to an intelligence apparatus – but one under their direct control.

Their reach extends everywhere one can imagine, and their formal mission is to ensure that all who would plot and scheme against the Royal Family are stopped. They are the ones who ensure that foreign enemies cannot infiltrate or influence, and pass along information to the Dromund Court that warns them of threats to property, body, or reputation.

It may be difficult to quantify the sheer amount of information that House Shan possesses. Even the High Nobility as a whole is unsure about their organization and objectives – proper spycraft is ever opaque.

They are widely perceived as the most dangerous family of the High Nobility, for their schemes have no equal in complexity, and are measured in generations rather than years. Few have the desire or capability to engage in espionage so intricate and subtle.

Few except House Shan.

One must be wary of this family. They may bear the Shan name, but they thrive in the shadows, spin webs of deceit, and manipulate by nature. They abandoned any association to the Jedi a very long time ago. They are something new now; something dangerous.

Treat them accordingly.

ON THE CIPHERS OF SHAN

The most infamous – and dangerous – members of House Shan are known as the Ciphers.

It is almost certain that the term was appropriated from the ‘Cipher Agents’ of Imperial Intelligence. Cipher Agents were elite operatives who were given the most sensitive and important tasks within the organization – to include field operations, assassinations, and deep cover operations.

Ironically, little of that describes the Shan Ciphers.

Their role is better understood as a handler. Ciphers are responsible for the recruitment of sources, the cultivation of assets, the creation and maintenance of networks, and finally consolidating all of the intelligence gained and discerning what is important, and what is inconsequential.

No one outside the family knows how the Ciphers are organized, only that it is on a numerical basis. The number of Ciphers is believed to be no more than fifty, but there are rumors that it is as high as eighty, or as low as thirty – almost certainly some of it is disinformation pushed by House Shan themselves.

Theories as to their organization range from asserting that each Cipher is responsible for a specific region of the Dromund System, or there is a Cipher assigned to each noble family, or some kind of a combination of the two. What is certain is that every Cipher is the heart of an extensive intelligence network that ranges from the commoners to the nobility.

The Ciphers are exceptionally talented at crafting personal and professional relationships. Many times, these networks include people who are wholly ignorant that they are being utilized at all.

The Aristocracy itself will publicly scoff at any claim they have been compromised in such a manner. They would say that while Shan might have penetrated the Commonwealth without their knowledge, the idea that they would have sources or assets in their house is a farcical illusion.

Ah, but they lie to themselves, reader.

This is why House Shan is respected.

It is why they are feared.

There is no noble family, from the lowest to the highest, who does not have at least one member who knowingly and willingly shares what they know with a Shan Cipher. Their reasons for doing so vary. Some of them are resentful of their status and do so out of spite, others believe they do this to give their family an advantage, some crave excitement, others are controlled by blackmail and shame by the Ciphers themselves.

The Shan Ciphers pick their noble sources carefully, knowing the consequences are severe if their asset changes their mind, or does not possess enough guile to avoid being detected. They pick those who are ideologically pliable, emotionally vulnerable, able to be predicted in a way that makes it worth the risk to cultivate. For infiltrating and spying on a noble family in this manner is a scandal – but curiously, despite their reputation, rarely are direct accusations made.

All by design.

All to maintain a certain illusion.

Few nobles know who the traitor in their family is – assuming there is only one. It may be a cousin, it may be someone so distant as to be irrelevant, or it could be their daughter, their heir, or their parent. The worst thing one can do is make assumptions about why one might wish to work with the Shan Ciphers – because to dismiss all motivation as treason simply does not work.

Especially because the Ciphers reward those who work for them.

They are often willing to indulge in the price demanded. Sometimes it is information on a rival, other times it is votes or sponsorship, sometimes it is elevation to nobility, or perhaps it is wealth and opportunity. This, however, is a two-way skylane – to gain from the Ciphers, you must offer and provide.

Be this information of your own, votes in a certain way, or other prices that only the Ciphers know.

House Shan possesses a deep and unique understanding of the greatest strengths and weaknesses of each of the noble families. Some information, such as overt criminal activity or conspiracy against a noble family is shared to the relevant parties or the Court, in accordance with their official role.

But there are many things that are kept quiet and obscured.

In the event that a Cipher emerges, or wishes to speak to you, understand that you are engaging with one of the most powerful and dangerous people on Dromund Kaas. There is little that they do not know, and I assure you, they do not speak to people without reason. It matters not your rank, power, or status.

If they see opportunity, they will strike, and do not presume you cannot be manipulated.

Pride has been the undoing of many a Sith. Do not count yourself amongst them.

ON THE INQUISITORS OF SHAN

Truth and identity are not always divulged when it comes to House Shan, but there are exceptions to this norm – and the Inquisitors are among them. Wearing robes of white, gray, and faded blue, lightsabers at their belt, and hoods shrouding their faces, they are among the most recognizable of House Shan – though they rarely speak without purpose.

As stated earlier, one of the core missions of House Shan is protecting the Aristocracy and the Royal Family from any plots and threats against them. While the Ciphers are, in theory, responsible for gathering this information, it is the Inquisitors who act on it.

They are skilled users of the Force, trained investigators, experienced interrogators, and educated psychologists who execute the counter-espionage activities of House Shan – and thus direct any counterintelligence effort for the Dromund Court as a whole. Part field agent, part detective, part spy, they often work in trios, often closely coordinating with the directly affected noble family. They are also charged with presenting final reports and findings directly to the Court and Sovereign.

Ironically, it is the Inquisitors who are the most trusted members of House Shan. With an Inquisitor, one can be certain that they are not engaged in a scheme or plot to subvert or influence your family. They are explicitly focused on their mission, and widely viewed as competent in executing it – as many an unfortunate target of the Inquisitors can attest to.

Secondary to this objective, the Inquisitors also ensure that any plots and schemes against House Shan fail or are turned against their creators. Inquisitors never draw attention to their work, or demand recognition or glory – but this should not be mistaken for complacency.

The few nobles who have been foolish enough to attempt to scheme against House Shan have received the message loud and clear – which can come in the form of a simple chat with an Inquisitor, or in the body of a spy or someone more precious. One engages in Court intrigue against House Shan at their own peril.

This is their turf, and it is widely accepted that the only ones who should even attempt it belong to the High Nobility – if even them.

ON DESHYR ROBAK SHAN, CIPHER ONE

The Deshyr of House Shan has always been a Cipher, and their title has always been ‘Cipher One.’

The lynchpin. The centerpoint. The leader. The mastermind.

Or such is assumed.

Yet some assumptions are more grounded than others, and it is unlikely that many would protest the idea that Deshyr Robak Shan – or any Deshyr of House Shan – is anything but a mastermind. Some assert that the Deshyr has always been a front; a formal role while the true leader remains unknown and unnamed.

These people have likely never met Robak Shan, else they might not be so quick to make such assertions. Or, if there is indeed another who is pulling the strings, then we should be afraid, for they must be greater than Robak himself.

This man is said to be second in power only to the Sovereign of Dromund Kaas. Heretical whispers claim that he has already surpassed even their influence. No matter what one thinks, there is agreement that he is almost certainly one who will shape the future of the Order of Nox.

Robak has only formally held the title of Deshyr for two decades – relatively short in comparison to his predecessors, though it is believed his own reign is just beginning. No one knows what he did prior to his ascension to Cipher One – though he was not an unknown presence in the Court.

All of the High Nobility knew his name – and all were deeply wary of him.

There is a certain quality to Robak that one cannot help but notice – even within a short interaction. He has the quiet, assured confidence of a man who knows more than you. Idle conversation creates the impression that your secrets and weaknesses are laid bare, while you know nothing in return. It is a presence that is unsettling when contrasted with his too-wide smile, and eyes that are as yellow as the sun.

He is a man who presents himself modestly, wearing tasteful clothing in the colors of his family; his hair and beard are groomed, but not flashy. A voice that is deep, but not memorable or boisterous. Yet it is a voice that possesses an amused lilt to it, as if he is perpetually reveling in an inside joke only he knows.

A dramatic description, perhaps, but Robak Shan is a man who thrives on drama and secrets. He is not an actor, so much as a director of the grand play he orchestrates.

It is he who commands the vast Shan Spynet, who receives and employs the knowledge his Ciphers give him, and who is responsible for shaping it to meet the long-term plans of the family. He is the face of Shan – feared, respected, admired, and resented alike.

Someone it’s best to go unnoticed by, and yet, if there is any noble one should ally with, it is he, for he is one of the only people outside the Royals themselves who can make or unmake noble families and individuals alike.

Interesting events are afoot, dear reader, because we may just witness the Shan endgame within our lifetimes. Rumors swirl, and observations have been made that Robak may be about to execute one of the greatest coups in Kaasian history.

One concerning the Royal Family itself.

It is known that the future of the Order of Nox will fall to the rule of the Crown Prince, and already the High Nobility has been in intense negotiation with the Royal Family over who Lestko Beni’vel will be betrothed to. While the Crown Prince will not be married for several years to come, the jockeying has started.

And perhaps it has already ended.

Some say that Robak Shan has successfully ensured that Lestko will marry a Shan – rumors suggest it might be one of his daughters, with some claiming it to be his youngest, Coraline. Perhaps, she’s Lestko’s age, though most dismiss her as something of a black nerf of the family. Only time will tell if these rumors prove true.

If it is successful, it will tie the Royal Family to Shan directly, and the Crown Prince, soon-to-be Prince of Dromund Kaas will have the voice of a Shan – and by proxy, Robak – in his ear.

A union between Shan and Beni’vel has always been shunned through previous millennia. The Royal Family has always perceived such a relationship as a risk, one which would eventually place them under the sway of House Shan.

Yet this wisdom appears to be failing, and be it through fear, desperation, or manipulation, Robak is taking advantage of a weakened Royal Family, and his dominance at Court to gain influence over the most important power in the Order of Nox.

A masterstroke if it comes to fruition – as if it does, then the supremacy of House Shan in the Dromund Court will almost certainly be assured for the indefinite future. For once House Shan and Royal Family are intertwined, it is unlikely they will be allowed to part willingly.

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF BENIKO, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF RULE

The origins of House Beniko are, ironically, far less tied to their namesake than their peers. While Lana Beniko founded the family, her bloodline is hardly present within it at all, but for a few individuals who have married members of the Royal Family Beni’vel – where Lana herself spent her last days after founding her namesake family.

In a certain way, this is fitting – Lana Beniko was, ultimately, intertwined with Nox as closely as any paramour can be. Once her duty was done and her name continued in some manner, it is unsurprising that she would seek to be closer to her beloved in her final days, culminating in being buried within Nox’s mausoleum in the Temple of the Dark Lords.

Thus, House Beniko continued in her absence.

With this comes an obvious question – what defines House Beniko if not for their bloodline? By whom are they composed?

Everyone, reader.

In most other scenarios, House Beniko would be split into a multitude of smaller noble families. It is the only Great House that does not have a majority-species within it. Indeed, one can find all manner of species within this particular family. Human, twi’lek, miraluka, togruta, mirialan, and a dozen other species that now live in the Dromund System have some representation – and this is intentional.

Following the bombardment of Dromund Kaas, the initial chaos was resolved in no small part due to the organization of Nox’s disciples and their quick decisions. While the Drellik bureaucrats were instrumental in establishing order, they could not do it alone. Help was demanded, and Lana was responsible for identifying administrators and organizers from the citizenry, and delegating authority to them.

It was perhaps a risk to put so much trust in their capabilities, but she had few options – and more importantly, her gamble paid off. Thanks to her decision, and the efforts of the disciples of Nox, order was eventually restored. That was the basis by which Lana founded House Beniko – as she determined that it would be charged with attending to the rule of the world itself.

She took the unilateral and unprecedented step of elevating all of the people who had administered in those crucial days to nobility, and adopted them directly into House Beniko. This was not atypical for Lana – among the Sith, she had an inclination towards the unorthodox and controversial.

If something needed to change, or the existing plan was not working, she would adjust without apology. She was able to rise quickly in the Sith because of her ability to adapt to Jadus’s rule, while many of her peers stagnated and her superiors fell. Her talent for planning and organization allowed many Imperials to survive the Eternal Empire – and later, were the basis from which entire worlds were liberated.

It is this legacy of adaptable organization that Beniko maintains, and of all of the Great Houses, they are the ones least attached to bloodlines, lineage, and tradition. Sometimes to their benefit, other times their detriment. It makes their politics complicated, and not without controversy.

It is not uncommon for Beniko to elevate Commonwealth families who show competence and potential. Within the Beniko territories, it is expected that if you perform well, are loyal, and demonstrate your interest, elevation to the Gentry is practically assured with time.

Beniko also has little issue with directly adopting and absorbing noble families as a matter of ascending them to the High Nobility, ballooning the size of their family and regularly bringing in new blood not just into their family, but throughout the Aristocracy itself.

They are easily the largest of the Great Houses, though their diversity does not come without drawbacks. There are a wide array of ideas, perspectives, and personalities internally, and they have been known to spend more time fighting amongst themselves rather than uniting – something that becomes common if their Altus is indecisive or weak.

It is curious how there are parallels to the Royal Family itself – though within entirely different contexts.

This kind of dynamic emerges more often than not, as it is no small feat to manage such a diverse and substantial family, much less one that is charged with assisting in the administration of the worlds themselves, as well as keeping the peace.

This is not to say that Beniko does not engage in Court intrigue, but that their skill waxes and wanes depending on leadership. At any one time there may be multiple independent schemes employed by multiple internal factions within Beniko which are run with little coordination. This makes them harder to predict, but also makes each uncoordinated effort weaker.

It is usually in the interests of the other High Nobility to perpetuate this divide, as when Beniko is united under firm leadership, they are easily considered the most powerful of the High Nobility. This has not happened for a very long time – but with their current Altus, Beniko appears poised for a major resurgence.

Something all of the Court is watching closely.

ON THE PEACEKEEPERS OF BENIKO

It is an unfortunate reality that no matter the civilization, no matter the ruler, there will always be those who – be it because of greed, self-interest, or anarchism – decide to embrace the allure of criminality.

There are criminals on Dromund Kaas, and the Order of Nox suffers the scourge of crime and social rot that any other society does. Thus, it becomes necessary to ensure there is a force in place to handle it. This is where the Peacekeepers come in, individuals empowered by the High Nobility to ensure that the Commonwealth is protected, and the lands of the Aristocracy secured.

This task falls under Beniko’s mandate, and they organize their Peacekeepers proportionally to their respective deployments – larger cities with bigger populations will have a higher allocation of Peacekeepers than villages or towns. The second metric factored into this are actual crime rates. These metrics combined determine the minimum number of Peacekeepers needed for any particular region.

Peacekeepers are also not strictly law enforcement in the traditional sense – they patrol, arrest, and question – but they also respond to incidents, thefts, and other crimes with no immediate suspect. They are also responsible for conducting the investigative efforts, acting as organizers and detectives.

Case resolutions are a very important metric Beniko maintains – to fail to bring a case to resolution is a black mark on any Beniko Peacekeeper, and gives incentive for them to not let cases turn cold. One might be concerned this would lead to false accusations and corruption among Peacekeepers.

This does indeed happen; however, Beniko has a very simple policy for those who either punish the wrong party, or fabricate evidence – immediate public execution. While it is disgraceful to fail a case, it is far, far worse to make a false accusation, or engage in criminality yourself.

Such punishments are usually carried out by the Altus themselves, with mandatory attendance from ranking Beniko Nobles. The message is clear, and as a result, the Peacekeepers are not plagued by graft.

While some Peacekeepers have near-permanent postings, especially in larger cities, many are moved around frequently as metrics change and needs adjust. This is understood as a good sign, for it means that they are having a positive effect.

Peacekeepers employ a mixture of Force-users and the Force-blind, who, regardless if they carry blasters or lightsabers, are instilled with significant authority over the Commonwealth, and even the Aristocracy should circumstance dictate. A Peacekeeper has the sovereign right to intervene in any incident or dispute they see, interrogate and detain at will, and render swift judgment if necessary.

Of course, they do not act recklessly with such power, as there are considerations beyond public perception. Acting as authorities within domains that do not ultimately answer to House Beniko comes with risks. To mitigate this, they will usually work in coordination with local officials and nobles when it comes to the treatment of criminals.

Some nobles care little if the Peacekeeper renders their verdict on the spot, while others will demand they be detained for proper investigation and trial. The Peacekeeper is expected to comply with the requests of the noble, unless the alternative is to place the lives of others at risk. To say that the reputation of the Peacekeepers among the Commonwealth is mixed is… a diplomatic way to put it.

The fact that not all Peacekeepers operate the same only complicates the matter.

Some populations have positive relationships and are always willing to assist and support their endeavors. Others fear them, and while they won’t interfere, they will not go out of their way to assist. This latter perception is one that the Peacekeepers themselves consider problematic.

Individuals who have such poor relationships are usually rotated elsewhere, and if necessary, placed on remedial plans to adjust their conduct. Beniko is sensitive to the fact that positive relations in this position are important, and while they maintain a ruthless approach to crime, they see a distinction between enforcement and thuggery.

Thus far, their approach has allowed their operation to be successful. Law enforcement is a necessary part of any civilization, and while their ideal goal is to stamp out the criminal inclination completely, even they see how unlikely that is.

Until they succeed utterly, the Peacekeepers will continue to patrol the streets, keeping the cities safe and the Commonwealth secure.

ON THE SENESCHALS OF BENIKO

To rule and administer is not an easy or simple task, and one must contend with those who are incompetent, lazy, or otherwise incapable of properly ruling their lands. Within certain noble systems, this is simply part of the risk and weakness inherent in the model – for it is the right of the noble to rule as they wish, is it not?

In some systems, perhaps. The Order of Nox has higher standards, and the High Nobility have developed little tolerance for the Nobles who fail at the basic tasks assigned to them. However, they also understand that experience does not come immediately, and one sometimes needs second opinions to make the correct decisions.

Enter the Seneschals of House Beniko.

All of the Noble Families, no matter their station, receive a dedicated Seneschal who is responsible for assisting them in the rule of their territories. Every Seneschal is an expert administrator with practical experience and knowledge of the region, its economy, and its people. They are sometimes more informed than those who nominally rule the territories in question.

It is amusing how often that is the case.

The purpose of the Seneschals is twofold – the first is to do their assigned task and assist the respective leader of the territory in ruling it in all matters administrative. They will offer recommendations, provide feedback, and work to optimize the existing systems of management that are in place.

The second is more subtle – it is to better standardize the systems of rule and administration, agnostic of any single Noble Family. Beniko believes they have developed an ideal system for administering a world, and while there are only some instances where they can overrule the Noble ruler, they nonetheless press for what they see as an ideal, efficient system.

An obvious question you might have is if a Noble can refuse a Seneschal.

The answer is no, reader. They cannot.

This fact applies to the High Nobility as well. This does not mean that the Noble must heed the advice of the Seneschal, nor even involve them to a significant degree – but Seneschals cannot be refused, and they are not idle. If they are not being tasked, they will work behind the scenes to implement their system – within certain boundaries.

This degree of potential meddling is an intended and acknowledged consequence. Beniko, and the High Nobility itself, is mostly interested in ensuring that someone is effectively administering the territories – they do not necessarily believe the Beniko system is the ideal, but better a Seneschal is pulling the strings rather than a lazy, inept ruler.

It is not uncommon for Seneschals to become the unofficial rulers of territories, as some Nobles see it as an excuse to offload responsibility to them – foolishly believing that the Seneschal is merely another subordinate, rather than a political representative of a High Noble Family.

Beniko has no complaints about this arrangement, and it is why their direct control over the affairs of many Noble Families is significant. Such influence is, ironically, less prevalent amongst the Gentry, as those nobles are driven by a desire to prove themselves worthy of elevation – which requires actual dedication and competence.

They similarly lack this degree of control over families closely tied to the High Nobility, who will tolerate the Seneschals, but are well aware that they are not apolitical actors. They will keep tight control over their family operations as a result, giving the Seneschal no excuse to exercise a freer hand.

Some High Noble Families have better relations with Seneschals than others – Zavros and Revel have worked well with Beniko, and are largely aligned in many respects. Historically, the Royal Family has also had cordial relationships with the Seneschals, though since the ascension of the current Altus, and the gradual decline of Beni’vel itself, these have become strained.

Ultimately, the Seneschals are a major reason the Order of Nox is able to administer their territories with relative effectiveness – and one that functions as the primary political arm of Beniko.

One can be assured they know very well the leverage and power they hold – and they doubtless use it in their own schemes at Court.

ON ALTUS DILEA BENIKO, KEEPER OF ORDER

The leaders of Beniko are among the most interesting, because they lack the familiar patterns one expects among the rest of the High Nobility. One can usually expect a clear line of succession and a designated heir. In some cases, the leadership of a noble family can be predicted generations in advance.

Very little of this conventional wisdom applies to Beniko, which has vastly different demographics and internal culture, one that is based less on bloodline, and more on accomplishment. Simply put, someone like Altus Dilea Beniko would not succeed in another family, let alone ascend to lead it.

That she is a miraluka is barely a hurdle to overcome in comparison to the other facts of her rise. Dilea was not even born to Beniko, but was adopted into it as a young ward – an extremely rare and astounding feat. To go from being born a commoner to eventually leading one of the Great Houses is a nearly impossible task.

I am hardly the first to be surprised upon learning these facts. Even within Beniko, few expected that the Altus would be Dilea, even if it eventually became clear to a majority that she deserved the title. Dilea has been fixated since she was a young girl on proving her worth, and changing the Order in a substantial way.

Unlike her predecessors, she has vision, she has plans, she has ambition.

Initially skeptical, many of House Beniko are warming to her vision – and she has only become more popular since the death of Prince Arlon, and the continued weakness of the Royal Family. Beniko and Beni’vel have historically had a very close relationship, and it was Beniko who was and is critical to the actual rule of the Dromund System almost since the inception of the current system.

This change in their relationship is notable.

There have been sentiments brewing for a long time that it is time for the right of Royalty to change. The previous years have seen growth in this outlook; one where the Royal Family no longer has supremacy, and instead this authority is invested in the worthiest member of the High Nobility – with Beni’vel simply being another Great House.

Dilea’s outlook has been heavily shaped by her own experiences, as well as how Beniko itself is organized – driven not by blood or species, but by merit, resolve, and determination. She holds a distaste for those who rely on nepotism as the basis for their authority. There are elements of the noble system that she believes are in significant need of modernization, and is far more willing to adjust them than her predecessors.

Most critically, she has a desire to see the importance of Beni’vel fade, and for Beniko to step up and assume their role as the de facto leaders of the Order of Nox. She has her own ideas for the modernization of the Order, yet where Revel’s modernization plans are technological, hers are political.

This is not particularly conspiratorial – it is an open secret that she holds this view, and that she is leading Beniko is proof that it is far from an unpopular sentiment. The loss of Beniko as a reliable ally is likely a major reason why Beni’vel has slowly been pushed into the arms of Drellik as their principal ally at Court.

Ironically, Dilea has been able to find common ground with Drellik on certain matters, who also seeks the weakening of the Royal Family – though for different reasons.

It is a rather ironic twist of fate that the family that bears Lana Beniko’s name is now aligned against the Royal Family that bears her blood. Though, perhaps that is too harsh. They do not seek its dissolution, only its irrelevance.

What might a Beniko-led Order of Nox look like, should Dilea succeed in her ambitions? It is difficult to say, but I would hesitate in underestimating this woman. She has overcome challenge after challenge to reach her station.

Only a fool would assume her edge has dulled in the process.

ON THE ROYAL FAMILY OF BENI’VEL, SOVEREIGNS OF DROMUND KAAS

With the details, exploits, and capabilities of the High Nobility laid out, it is natural to wonder precisely why it is the right of the Royal Family of Beni’vel to rule all of Dromund Kaas, and the greater Order of Darth Nox. The most obvious answer – that it is the only family that has the direct lineage of Darth Nox – is true, but incomplete.

It is not just the continuation of Nox’s bloodline, but also that of Lana Beniko, Andronikos Revel, and Theron Shan. Both Nox and Lana were in previous relationships for a period, and each of them bore a child following this period before meeting each other, and brought both children – a girl and boy – into their relationship to raise together.

The name ‘Beni’vel’ is derived from a conjunction of the surnames they’d previously had. Nox herself died before Beni’vel was founded at all, but she died knowing that her lineage would continue, and Lana would raise their children well.

With the establishment of the noble system, there was a question of exactly where Nox’s child would grow up. More than a few expected that Beniko would be the direct continuation of Nox’s bloodline – but Lana quickly debased that notion. There was talk of having the family be named for Nox’s previous lineage: ‘Kallig.’

Lana refused the suggestion, as Nox had never held any attachment to her familial lineage, and had abandoned her previous names when she ascended to the rank of Dark Councilor. Some said that it should have been ‘Nox’ or ‘Onixa’ – her birth name – but few were particularly enthusiastic about that suggestion. It was Andronikos Revel who proposed a conjunction of the children’s surnames. Several permutations were considered, but in the end, they settled on ‘Beni’vel.’

So it was decided, and as the sole bearer of Nox’s lineage, Onixa Ishal Revel took the throne as the first Princess of Dromund Kaas, alongside her husband and the first Prince of Dromund Kaas, Kieran Surana Beniko. They and their direct heir, Chapar Beni’vel, were the only Sovereigns to receive direct advice and insight from Nox’s Disciples before their passing.

In the early years of the Order of Nox, all of the High Nobility, such as it was, was fully united behind the Royal Family and were fixated on strengthening the legitimacy and power the young throne exerted over the Order. They could not see the future, but they knew that eventually there would be efforts to weaken, degrade, or even overthrow the Beni’vel Sovereign.

There is a perception that the immutability of the Royal Family has always been accepted without question. The actual history of the Order of Nox tells a different story. This particular perception has only been the case for the past two millennia – prior to it, the position of the Royal Family was far more precarious, and mere centuries after its foundation, it was in danger of being rendered a symbolic figurehead.

The Royal Family had grown in size and established itself well enough, but of all the major noble families, its numbers were among the smallest. This was out of a belief that the Royal Family would be insular and selective with who they would allow to marry into it. A large Royal Family was not seen as a pressing need.

It was a sound enough approach, were it not for a plot among the nobility – of the non-High persuasion – who, acting as a united front, made demands of the High Nobility and the Royal Family concerning the mechanisms of rule and the right of Beni’vel to hold this authority. It was the first time such a challenge had been directly issued.

A precarious situation was forming – or so many feared.

It was a gamble, dear reader, that turned out to have been a significant miscalculation. There are reasons why the Nobles in question believed they could get away with it – because if certain things had been different, they would have.

Firstly, the High Nobility lacked the same degree of interest and control over their nominal territories than they do today. Instead, they ruled and organized themselves much like Beni’vel did – insular and distant. There was an assumption that their status and lineage alone would make them untouchable.

A dangerous assumption that nearly cost them dearly.

The Nobles had made promises and assurances to Gentry and even certain Commonwealth representatives to gain their support for the plot. There was a calculation made on their end – one where they saw concessions as a strong possibility.

The Nobility did not wish to go to war, and would have likely stopped short if the High Nobles called their bluff – but it didn’t reach that point.

During this time, Dromund Kaas was ruled by Princess Orin Beni’vel – a woman whose power was immense, and her talent equivalent. It was rumored her power would have rivaled Darth Nox herself, and to this day, she is considered one of the most powerful Force-users Beni’vel has ever produced.

She had no intention of giving concessions.

In response to these demands, she did the only thing that any self-respecting Sovereign would do – she summoned all of the Nobles under the pretense of negotiations, before proceeding to break their minds for the entire assembled Aristocracy to see. As they were tortured, flayed, and destroyed before hundreds of witnesses, Orin then asked those assembled if any wished to challenge the sovereignty of Beni’vel to rule Dromund Kaas.

None stepped forward.

With this single event, Orin not only solidified her supremacy over the Nobility – but also the Great Houses, some of whom were considering compromise on some issues. The traitor Nobles who had orchestrated the insurrection had their families wiped to a person, and in speaking to the High Nobility, Orin stated that this would not happen again.

Steps were immediately taken to rectify the deficiencies in their approach to rule.

Orin’s plan was relatively simple, and based on a clear observation – insularity and too far a distance between the higher nobles and the lower ones was not sustainable. Royal blood must be distributed strategically, forming connections and ties to ensure peace for generations to come.

She committed to this plan, and began the process by arranging the marriages of her thirteen children to strategically important Noble Families. However, it was her successor, Prince Daryl Beni’vel who would optimize her plan, and lay the groundwork for generations to come.

Daryl established a rule for the spreading of Royal blood – one child per Noble Family, and when it was done once, it was not repeated. Children were a limited resource, and once the blood had been spread, there was no care if it remained strong or was diluted over generations. Daryl wanted the blood to thin over time, because that was less important than the blood tie existing in the first place.

There were Nobles who saw what was being done, but were not in a position to do anything – especially when they directly benefited from the connection. The High Nobility also pursued this strategy to a certain degree, but reached a point where they feared their blood becoming too diluted among the Nobles.

Beni’vel nonetheless persisted, and though it took many generations, the results have ensured that no Noble Family ever dared organize something even remotely threatening to the noble system the Order of Nox conceived. Today, a majority of Noble Families contain some amount of Royal blood, the fruit of millennia of careful intermarriage and political arrangements.

The Royal Family ceased this particular strategy around one thousand years ago, deciding that they had achieved what they wished, and the status and roles of the Aristocracy were firmly solidified. The Royal Family returned to being more selective with who they married, though related branches of the Royal Family and less important members of Beni’vel have continued to marry Nobles, even as the amount of Royal blood in the Aristocracy is often less prolific than some claim.

Let us pause for a moment to address a peculiarity that occasionally occurs amongst the High Nobility, something you’re likely to encounter should you research their history in depth. Despite the best efforts of the families, some of their scions are born blind to the Force. It doesn’t often occur, but when it does, it is most prevalent amongst Houses Shan and Beni’vel.

This is due to a single man, Theron Shan.

Perhaps that isn’t fair, as he is not truly to blame, but rather an ancestor of his, Zhar Panlie. He was the second son of Darth Revan and Bastila Shan, and – relevant to our current discussion – he married a woman named Lanni Overlet. What relevance does this woman you’ve never heard of play in this story, I hear you ask. Simple. She was a clone. Specifically, an attempt by her father to manufacture superior progeny. One wonders how he would view his descendants now that they rule Dromund Kaas so expertly.

Regardless, this is the reason for Nox’s peculiar nature. Even millennia later, the Force refuses to ignore the unnatural element that pervades their blood. Clones are outside nature, outside the Force. It’s why flash-clones go mad. It's why cloning Force-sensitives is so… fraught. And now, nearly every High Noble human bloodline runs the risk of having the Force skip a generation.

And yet, one should not pity the Force-blind noble.

It may come as a shock, dear reader, but the Aristocracy does not sneer at their unfortunate progeny, because the most dangerous amongst them are those without the gift. For they must prove themselves without the benefit of such a crutch.

Consider the last Prince, Copania’s husband, Arlon Beni’vel – the first Beni’vel in six generations to be born bereft of his birthright. He was a titanic force at Court. A shrewd diplomat capable of not only playing families off one another, but individuals within families as well. He was the herald of a new age for Nox, and yet… he was felled by a Sith. Melodramatic? Certainly. And yet, that is what happened.

Ever the diplomat, he hosted Darth Timoris – the first visit she’d ever made to Dromund Kaas. In fact, it was their first meeting, for while Arlon was the Prince, he appointed a Champion to act as his representative on the High Council of the Sith Collective – likely fearing the diplomatic prejudices of being a Force-blind Councilor. And yet, that single encounter was enough to unravel his very mind and end in his demise. Perhaps he would have survived, had he had the Force to rely on – though, given the reaction even seasoned Sith Lords have to her presence, one wonders.

And what are we to make of Darth Timoris’s actions? Had she seen him as a threat to be removed? I don’t know. The Lord of the Mind keeps her own counsel.

Today, the Royal Family of Beni’vel is less concerned with engaging in Court intrigue, but instead keeping their hard-won authority over the High Nobility – which has arguably already been undercut. A High Nobility with some members who have grown less interested in serving in their roles, but instead weakening the authority of Beni’vel. To this end, Beni’vel works to meet the High Nobility on their own terms and maintain superiority.

Beni’vel hold themselves to an exceptionally high standard, where even the average Beni’vel Lord or Lady must not be merely adequate, but exemplary. They will not specialize in one or two subjects or disciplines, but three or four. They will study under the other Great Houses, and in turn instruct their siblings and relatives.

They can be as skilled as Zavros Knights, as learned and powerful as Drellik Sorcerers, and can even possess the technical intuition of the Revel Machine-Masters. Each of them believes they are responsible for representing the importance and supremacy of the Royal Family – it is their duty, for being born into Beni’vel does not mean you will remain in the family.

House Beni’vel is the only house that will demote members who cannot meet this standard. They will either marry them into a house of the Gentry and subsequently surrender the Royal name, or facilitate their adoption into another noble family, which also requires a surrendering of the Royal name. If they cannot meet the standards of Royalty, they will not enjoy its privileges.

It is a choice given to children when they reach their sixteenth birthday. Either to continue with their education – with the understanding they might fail and be expelled – or make the choice to depart the Royal Family voluntarily. Some willingly leave, often those who were already struggling. Most make the attempt, even if only a fraction succeed.

As a result, it can be safely said that the Royal Family is elite even among the Aristocracy, and this alone justifies their continued supremacy. It is the single strongest concentration of skill, intelligence, and power – but still, they are but one family, and there are limitations in what even they can do.

It does not help that this elitism – while beneficial – makes each Beni’vel believe they possess a right to implement their ideas and vision… or at least be heard out on their merits. Many Beni’vel members attempt to compete for the attention of the ruling Sovereign, and if the Sovereign cannot manage to unite their own family under a single vision, then it is a sign that their rule will be weak and divided.

The Sovereign is always hereditary, as it is the direct continuation of the Nox bloodline. It is the only position in Beni’vel that is not determined by consensus or merit – and that makes it the most important position. Sovereigns must be strong of mind, personality, and vision, to fully unite the Royal Family, and leverage them to bring Beni’vel to prosperity.

If they cannot do this, then it will fail.

The Royal Family is old enough now that there are several schools of thought that have sustained themselves in various forms through generations, with the advocates of each trying to sway the Sovereign to their viewpoint. The Sovereign will either elevate one of these, or go with their own vision, but they must do one or the other. If they do not, the factions within Beni’vel will struggle among themselves to act unilaterally – seeing the lack of strength or choice in the Sovereign as justification.

For if the Sovereign cared, they would put a stop to their actions.

Often in this case, the Sovereign is simply working to ensure nothing permanent is lost concerning their authority over Dromund Kaas. Beni’vel has been consumed by a certain hubris, in that they believe their position is unassailable, and few think that the loss of previous authorities matters overmuch, as the High Nobility would not dare betray them as the Nobles once did.

There are some signs that Beni’vel is becoming aware of certain realities, and the Princess-Regent is most clear-eyed about the truth of her family’s fading power – but the personalities within Beni’vel are strong, and it will require a Sovereign who possesses the vision of Nox, the ruthlessness of Orin, and the resolve of Arlon to subjugate them all.

Time will tell if the Crown Prince will eventually meet this moment – or if Beni’vel will be condemned to another generation of weakness.

THE INTERNAL CLIQUES OF BENI’VEL

In the previous section, I highlighted that there are several entrenched internal factions within House Beni’vel itself. Considering that there is no Sovereign at the moment with the will or capability to bring them in line, they have all grown more divided – and each intends to have the future Crown Prince elevate their status and become the de facto operational ideology of the Royal Family.

It would be a mistake to say that all members of Beni’vel fall into a Clique – a shorthand term for these groups – as there are some who eschew these internal politics, believing them self-defeating. These individuals are few and far between, and most tend to sympathize with one Clique over the others, as each is usually mutually-exclusive in their goals.

The Cliques revolve around how Beni’vel is to rule the Order of Nox, and exercise their authority within and outside the Court. As one can imagine, there are a multitude of opinions to choose from – but there are three in particular which are worth some special attention.

The first is the Traditionalist Clique, one that has been hemorrhaging support for several generations, especially following the death of Prince Arlon. Traditionalists effectively advocate for maintaining the status quo, with the relationship between the Royals and High Nobility remaining the same, to ensure that norms and traditions and the balance of power are maintained.

As tempting as it is to adjust the approach of House Beni’vel, they argue that to arbitrarily disrupt a system that has worked for thousands of years would lead to unpredictable risk, and could bring about the very thing they are trying to prevent. Traditionalists do plan to ensure that no more authorities are ceded, and some offshoots support gaining back the authorities that were surrendered – but the fundamental structures that make up the Order of Nox will remain untouched.

In essence, they prize stability over risk, though their arguments have been slowly losing sway with the Royal Family following the continued weakening of the Royal position. Several weak Sovereigns, a now-dead one, and a Princess-Regent and Crown Prince-in-waiting is a downward slope that hardly inspires confidence in the current direction.

The Traditionalists are the most supportive of Princess-Regent Copania, though they do not view her with unquestioned approval – as she refuses to give any single Clique sway. Thus, they are the most tolerant, but even they do not consult her regarding their own plans.

The second Clique of note are the Sovereigntists, who believe that it is far past time that the Royal Family reasserts their authority and power over Dromund Kaas. They are in favor of directly challenging the schemes and influence of the High Nobility – no matter what the fallout might be.

There is a strong belief that much of the High Nobility has forgotten their place, and that Beni’vel rules Dromund Kaas, full stop – now and forever. They support the formal reclamation of sovereignty over the Kaasian moon of Sami, and the direct annexation of important regions or territories across Dromund Kaas.

They want at least one major holding and estate within the domain of every Great House, across all continents, to fall under direct Beni’vel rule. As they find it stifling to be confined to the Black Islands. They intend to rally the Aristocracy behind them if they can execute this, and reiterate to whom they serve.

Such an approach would doubtless lead to instability, especially if the High Nobility calls their bluff or elects to challenge them directly – a very real possibility given current Beni’vel weakness. Nonetheless, the Sovereigntists believe a change in course is necessary, and a failure to act decisively will be death by a thousand cuts, and the Royal Family ultimately reduced to figureheads.

The third and final Clique of note are the most radical – the Iconoclasts, who go even further than the Sovereigntists in how they wish to deal with the High Nobility. This Clique has sub-factions within it, with the only disagreement being the extent to which they want to act.

Their core view is that they believe that the High Nobility has served their purpose, currently holds too much power, and should be substantially weakened as a result if not outright abolished. The most extreme Iconoclasts propose a large-scale purge of each High Noble House perceived of disloyalty, and the abolishment of the concept of the High Nobility entirely – effectively demoting them to the status of Noble Houses with no special privileges.

The larger, and less extreme Iconoclast faction proposes instead of purging the High Nobility, they dilute their power by elevating trusted Noble Houses with strong lineage to Beni’vel, breaking up the existing responsibilities of the High Nobility for a wider pool of candidates. In effect, they treat it as a reset of the entire High Nobility, which leaves Beni’vel in a very strong position, with a majority of this new High Nobility strongly influenced by the Royal Family.

Even the Iconoclasts know how dangerous this proposal is, and how high the chance of failure would be – though this is where it becomes interesting. There are rumors that they would seek the direct support of the Sith Collective if they gained the power to follow through.

This, by any metric, makes them radical to a degree not even Nox would approve of. The utilization of foreign powers to facilitate a palace coup is not a consideration for any other group, no matter their issues with the High Nobility.

Yet the Iconoclasts believe this action must be taken, and are looking not just to the future of the Royal Family, but the Order of Nox as a whole. The vast majority of progressive and modernization-focused members align with the Iconoclasts. Make of these facts what you will, but this Clique only seems to be growing.

Right now, each of these Cliques lacks the domination necessary to act with any decisiveness. Which is why they are each attempting to sway the Princess-Regent to their side – without success – and preparing to convince the Crown Prince of the superiority of their views.

One of these Cliques may gain sway in the future – and barring an unexpected development, it could lead to interesting times for the Order of Nox.

ON CROWN PRINCE LESTKO BENI’VEL, SOVEREIGN-IN-WAITING OF DROMUND KAAS

While the young Crown Prince has yet to assume the throne for several more years, his inevitable rise warrants attention. Some might believe it is a useless exercise when he is now but a boy – but all boys become men, and the mannerisms and attitudes exhibited in childhood shape their outlook as adults.

It is worth a closer examination.

Crown Prince Lestko Beni’vel is something of an enigma to many in the Dromund Court, if for no other reason than unlike his predecessors, he has little interest in engagement with them. An important point of clarification is that this is not a deliberate political gambit – it is simple disinterest.

The Crown Prince appears unenthused in his destiny, and it has resulted in greater strain being placed on his mother, for the High Nobility sense that when he inevitably rises, he will be a weak Sovereign. Such comes with opportunities that the Crown Prince is unprepared to deal with. His mother attempts to shield him from the worst of this scheming – how successful she is we can only speculate.

Lestko is sensitive to the Force and carries the blood of Nox within him. He is said to be able to wield the Force competently, and of acceptable power. Though what determines the worth of a Sovereign is never their power in the Force – as exemplified by his father – but how they can leverage their authority, and influence Court and noble alike.

He is a studious boy, and respectful to his teachers and peers. The Crown Prince is clearly intelligent, and many in the Royal Family are desperate to turn this intellect to the affairs of state and politics. At his current age, previous heirs were being introduced to the Court, and regularly accompanied their parents in their duties.

In contrast, Lestko is wholly divorced from the affairs at Court, and has only been seen at the most important engagements. While he was noted as being respectful to those attending and approaching him, it is clear that he did not want to be there, and departed at the first acceptable opportunity. His only public appearances otherwise are in his studies, where the children of other High Nobles also attend.

This, reader, is where we gain clearer insight into the character of the Crown Prince. He will not go out of his way to speak with nobles, but he does not have this reluctance speaking with peers his own age. Rarely about politics, to be clear, but subjects one might expect a young boy to be interested in. He has friends, though only a small number he appears comfortable with inviting to the Royal Palace to spend time with.

He is well-liked by his peers, though even they appear to have trouble seeing him as a future Sovereign. One might see this as grim news for an already-weakened Royal Family – but I would simply say that much can change in only a few years – and there are more than a few years before the young Beni’vel will take his father’s place.

We shall see what kind of man he becomes, and if it will be Lestko who manages to unite his family and the Court alike.

ON PRINCESS-REGENT COPANIA DRELLIK-BENI’VEL, SOVEREIGN OF DROMUND KAAS, AND COUNCILOR OF THE ORDER OF DARTH NOX

One cannot look at the Princess-Regent Copania Drellik-Beni’vel and without seeing a tragedy in the making, if not one that has already come to pass.

It is thankless work to sit upon a throne that you are only saving for something else. None of the respect, little of the power, bereft of the pride that should be instilled in one holding so privileged a position.

Alas, fate did not turn in the favor of Copania.

Her marriage into the Royal Family was to be one of her greatest moments, and a point of pride for her family. She expected to be ruling alongside her husband, Prince Arlon, for decades to come. She expected to be changing the Order, raising her children, and uniting the Royal Family properly for the first time in decades. Together, it is likely that they would have been a formidable pair of Sovereigns, as her husband had been a man of vision and courtly power.

It is nonetheless a testament to her own presence and capability that the Princess-Regent has been able to maintain the status quo at Court, despite the Great Houses sensing weakness, and circling for blood. She is barely succeeding in this respect – but succeeding nonetheless, for she knows what happens if she fails.

It is difficult to articulate the exact situation the unfortunate Acting-Sovereign finds herself in – from the sheer isolation, to the circling nobles who see opportunities, a Royal Family that tolerates, yet ignores you; and a son whom you can barely spend time with, as your days and nights are consumed by attempting to prevent the walls from closing in, and the daggers burying themselves in your back.

The nobles have a curious perception of Copania – primarily that she is a weak, feckless Sovereign who exists to warm the seat for her son. That she is a figure barely worthy of consideration were it not out of respect for tradition – and because of the few allies she has maintained.

It is unfortunate this situation has created this perception, as it shrouds Copania’s own competence in light of the circumstances. A lesser woman would have been unable to prevent the authorities of the Royal Family from being weakened further in this environment, yet Copania has succeeded, through a rallying of allies throughout Dromund Kaas – primarily facilitated by her grandfather, Deshyr Hidwar of House Drellik – to keep the worst vultures of the Court at bay, though it came at the cost of the relationship with Beniko.

Though we know that Beniko had been already shifting positions – Copania made the only logical choice, and so far, it has been the correct one.

For now.

She is aware of the tenuous position she is in, and how one miscalculation, or one betrayal could topple this precarious position. Yet she persists all the same, even as she contends with wrangling a divided Royal Family whose factions seek to make her their puppet – as she is seen by them as an outsider, a Drellik, a pretender who dares think she should be anything more.

She has few allies outside of the Royal Family, and fewer inside, as she was widowed only years into their marriage, and had no time to integrate herself before taking the position of Princess-Regent through necessity. As far as the House of Beni’vel is concerned, her only contribution of note was Lestko.

Her son has become her driving motivation – though she worries for his future, as he will inherit a divided family, enter a Court that senses weakness, while Shan and Drellik both angle to puppet or subvert the Royal Family for their own agendas. He will enter into a dangerous period, where his future may not be of his own accord.

She wishes to prevent this future, and leave a situation where he will at least be able to choose his destiny.

Drellik has been rather lenient as it concerns their support to the Royal Family – but Copania doubtless expects that they will soon call in their favors, which she will be forced to pay lest her political situation worsen. It is certain she is working on contingencies to mitigate this possibility, and with the rumored insights of the Sovereign Eyes, the enduring loyalty of Zavros, she may find an unlikely solution.

But let us be blunt, reader, the cold, harsh truth is that her options are limited, and she may be in a box she cannot escape.

One can tell just by looking at her how this role has changed her in only a decade. Where she was vibrant and young once, barely past the age of twenty-five, and one of the youngest Sovereigns to take the throne, today she has the demeanor and appearance of someone much older. Eyes that are weary and shrunken, a face rendered gaunt through stress, as streaks of gray accent raven hair.

Copania makes little effort to hide how much she has aged despite so little time passing. The superficial does not matter to her, so long as she can secure the future of the Royal Family and her son – a demonstration of loyalty to a family that has done little to accept her, even after these many years.

Yet such was the commitment she made to the Royal Family when she married into it, and she intends to see her duty through to the end.

ON THE MANDALORIANS OF THE ALLIANCE

Those amongst you who are familiar with Darth Nox’s cadre during the war with Zakuul might have noticed that there has been little said about her other allies during that time. What of the Zakuulian defectors or the criminal elements like the Black Sun or the Hutt Cartels? What of the obscure Luka Sene who joined the Alliance late in the war?

The truth is these answers lack the drama one might expect. Some were exterminated or disbanded. Others were subsumed into other organizations or even the Aristocracy itself. But there is one that stands out, that survives even to this day – though it is as foreign to its forebears as the Quabular.

Shae Vizla’s Mandalorians – today known as the ‘Vizlavian Guard.’

I am afraid that this requires a historical tangent to properly explain how such a thing came about – and it begins with the Mandalorians of the era. Mandalorians are a people who are often stereotyped and misunderstood – by both their advocates and detractors alike, especially as to the diversity of their internal politics, beliefs, and divisions.

Mandalorians are often portrayed as honorable warriors, or ruthless barbarians, with the average person finding it difficult to imagine a Mandalorian who does not fit their perceived stereotype. Even today, the average citizen – or perhaps even yourself – believes you know who the Mandalorians supported during the Galactic War between the Republic and Sith Empire.

Everyone.

Let me disabuse you of the idea that all Mandalorians hold identical codes or virtues. Mandalorian clans come in all stripes, sympathies, and ideologies. Mandalorian factions could be found supporting the Empire, others working for the Republic, and still more remaining independent. Others acted as mercenaries and hired guns for criminal organizations, slaving rings, or oligarchs, all in pursuit of notoriety or credits.

There was not one single Mandalore at this time, but a plethora of separate claimants, each of them aligning with the faction that would gain them the ability to unite the clans under their authority. Technically, we know that there was an official Mandalore who controlled core Mandalorian Space, but he was weak, impotent, and ignored – so much so that history remembers him as ‘Mandalore the Lesser.’

Much of this status quo between the warring clans continued uninterrupted until the emergence of a new type of Mandalorian who proved so dangerous and threatening that nearly all of the surviving Mandalorians united to stop him – Mandalore the Prophesized, and his Quabular.

The tale of the Quabular is a fascinating one, as well as the impact it had specifically on Mandalorian history, and the domino effect that began with their arrival. But that is another story – all you need know is that even as the Eternal Empire marched across the galaxy, there was a second, smaller war raging between Mandalore the Prophesized and Mandalore the Purifier, who led the united Mandalorian clans.

This will be a relevant, but distant, element to the story we are about to discuss.

We now turn to one Shae, of Clan Vizla. Vizla was one of the most infamous Mandalorian Clans in the galaxy. They who had no master but themselves, not even those who claimed to be Mandalore. Who would do anything as long as the price was right. Shunned by the more noble clans, and distrusted by all others, Vizla made their own way in a violent galaxy, becoming both wealthy and infamous in the process.

Shae was not a woman who embodied traditional Mandalorian virtues beyond her military prowess. There are some who romanticize this woman with her fiery mane as a bulwark of virtue against the hordes of Zakuulian warriors that had come to subjugate them, or a true Mandalorian whose example is to be emulated.

Thoughts only held by the ignorant or delusional. Little could be further from the truth.

Shae was a Vizla; a mercenary whose trail of corpses would make any Sith envious – to say nothing of her proximity to major galactic events. She took part in the Sacking of Coruscant. She was on the frontlines of the imperial subjugation of Balmorra. There are dozens of events of violence and massacre where Shae and Clan Vizla were front and center often in the center of.

Their reputation – and notoriety – grew as a result.

It is perhaps unsurprising that she is nearly exclusively tied to the Sith Empire, as few in the Republic even considered her services, or those of her clan. Vizla was disgraced among even Imperial-aligned clans, but it was this reputation that brought her to the attention of Darth Nox – where she was hired to take part in the Kaggath on Corellia against Darth Thanaton.

One can imagine how that played out, and Shae acquitted herself well in the bloody battle, taking trophies from soldier, mercenary, and Sith alike. Her performance impressed Nox enough that she kept Shae and Clan Vizla on a permanent retainer – empowering them with the best weapons and technologies of the Empire.

Shae took part in numerous campaigns under Nox, through the Revanite War, and up until the invasion of the Eternal Empire.

Shae was driven underground like everyone else, but kept in contact with Nox’s disciples and associates. Once Lana and Theron began developing a more substantial resistance, it wasn’t long before she joined them, playing an early leading role in the nascent Alliance. It was at this time when Mandalore the Purifier rose to unite the clans against Mandalore the Prophesized and his rampaging Quabular.

It is believed that Shae petitioned Mandalore for aid against the Eternal Alliance – but was rejected, due to Vizla being tainted, and an inability of the Mandalorians to support the effort while the Quabular remained a threat. However, that did not mean nothing was done.

To the surprise of many within and outside the Mandalorian clans, Mandalore the Purifier did instill in Shae a rare, almost unprecedented authority: the ‘Ne’tra-kal.’ Depending on your translation, it means either ‘ambassador’ or ‘champion.’

In essence, it allowed her to act and recruit with the sanction of Mandalore, which would make it easier for her to unite other Mandalorians against the Eternal Empire, or bring other clans in line. It is believed this was made with the understanding that Nox’s Alliance would assist them with the Quabular in return.

An understanding that was met, to the knowledge of our records. In the meantime, Shae had the authority to act in an unprecedented manner. She was not Mandalore, but something adjacent to it. An implicit acknowledgement of the threat of Zakuul.

When Nox was freed, and the Alliance expanded, Shae was able to begin developing her own organization, and implement a more coherent understanding of her Mandalorian view. It is worth reiterating that she was a Vizla, and her methods were far different from what you may have expected.

She wrangled, intimidated, and threatened all disparate, independent, and disgraced Mandalorian clans who had not joined the Purifier into serving under her. She had no qualms about crushing clans who did not obey, while offering Vizla as a refuge to the disgraced clans to escape the Purifier’s wrath.

There was little ‘traditional’ honor in Shae’s Mandalorians. They were utterly merciless against the Zakuulians and those who collaborated with them. Shae worked to entice, recruit, and poach the best Imperial and Republican soldiers into her clan, as well as Jedi and Sith – particularly those who had a penchant for violence, and a personal animosity toward Zakuul.

In practice, they operated as a mixture of guerilla, terror, and special operations forces under Nox. If something needed to be done without regard for life or morality, Shae’s Mandalorians carried it out. They soon gained a reputation in the Eternal Empire that pierced the propaganda, and were feared even as far as core Zakuulian Space

However, they were a relatively small part of a much larger war effort, and as the war continued, more radical evolutions were taken.

As the war grew more desperate, Shae implemented one of the most controversial policies associated with any Mandalorian – the usage of penal battalions. The ‘Loras Aranar’ were formed with Nox’s approval – officially translated to ‘Redemptionary Battalions,’ keen observers will point out it actually translates to ‘Meat Shield.’ Subtlety is for the weak, or so the Clan Vizla proverb goes. The Battalions consisted of individuals convicted of various crimes within the Alliance, collaborators, and Zakuulian POWs, who were offered the opportunity to redeem themselves in service of the war effort.

These were disposable soldiers, managed and utilized by Clan Vizla. They were used as cannon fodder, in suicide missions, or as distractions. It was a means of employing the useless and the criminal in a meaningful way instead of simply detaining or executing them.

It is rumored that Mandalore the Purifier nearly declared a Blood Hunt against Shae when he learned of this. Instead, he stripped her of the Ne’tra-kal title, removing the legitimacy she had enjoyed – a decision he likely knew made little difference now, but it removed his personal culpability for her activities. What Shae had established was self-sustaining, and with Nox’s protection, she no longer needed the approval of ‘true’ Mandalorians.

All of this leads to the final assault against Empress Vaylin, where Shae herself took part in the offensive – and perished along with many others against the mad Empress.

We know what followed afterwards.

A large contingent of Shae’s Mandalorians were on Dromund Kaas when the Dark Age began, and without her iron-clad leadership, it quickly fell apart. With the onset of the era, the polyglot clan she’d forged was isolated and left without purpose or reason.

Many of them degenerated into what they had been before. Base criminals. Murderers. Thieves. Mercenaries. However, in this early period, they thrived where others fell. They organized and raided outposts and cities for food and supplies, before retreating into the harsh jungles where they could survive.

Over time, these bands consolidated themselves, and began actively attacking those who would one day make up the Aristocracy. However, this was only part of the former Clan Vizla – there were others who remained with Beniko and Nox’s allies, serving as they always had before. However, where they had once served as Shae’s unscrupulous hammer, they had become a noble shield.

They were used to protect convoys, farms, and food supplies. They were sent to destroy criminals and raiders. There was a new focus and motivation forming within the newer generation of Clan Vizla unlike anything before. Forged by necessity, and by Vizla Mandalorians who saw an opportunity in realizing their idealized incarnations.

This slow process of realignment of their mission, values, and priorities was encouraged by the proto-nobles, spearheaded by the Beni’vels. Selective bribery and assassination further shifted the internal dynamics of the clan until they were ruled by those more amenable to cooperation – culminating in a concentrated effort by the Beni’vels to have them exterminate rival Vizla factions.

It took decades before the last rogue Vizla was hunted down – but it was accomplished, leaving only the strongest allies of this new nobility. However, their current incarnation evolved during the rise of Princess Orin.

When Orin acted to destroy those plotting against her, Clan Vizla played a major role in the arrest, pursuit, and execution of the traitors. When Orin reorganized the new nobility, she similarly reformed Clan Vizla into the Vizlavian Guard – the final evolution of what had once been a collection of uncouth raiders and criminals into a knightly fraternity; one that placed honor and duty as its highest virtues – and loyalty to the Beni’vel Sovereign first and foremost.

No more raiding. No more scheming. No more disgrace. They were to be the exemplary warriors of Dromund Kaas. They would serve no one before House Beni’vel – a position buttressed by several political marriages with lesser sons and daughters of the future Royal Family. They have served this role ever since – truly becoming something unique in the tapestry of the Dromund milieu.

That is a sufficient history lesson.

Let us move to the Vizlavian Guard proper.

ON THE VIZLAVIAN GUARD

It is likely your expectations for the Vizlavian Guard have been shifted following the story of their origins. You might now expect them to emulate a more traditional, honorable, incarnation of this warrior people.

Not entirely.

While it is true that the Vizlavian Guard has eschewed the criminal and violent nature that once dogged them, one may find it difficult to argue that they are truly ‘Mandalorian’ beyond the aesthetics of their attire, and their enduring warrior culture.

The Vizlavian Guard holds a unique place within the Aristocracy. They are both deeply connected to it through their blood connection to the Beni’vels – and also as apolitical as one can be within the system. Other than their redoubt on the moon of Regi, they do not formally control any land. They have no influence on politics, nor partake of the Court.

They are charged with protecting the Dromund System and the Aristocracy from harm, as well as ensuring the stable rule of the Beni’vels. This manifests itself in several ways. In many respects, they are the closest incarnation of a standing army that answers to the state Sovereign, and they effectively control what constitutes the Dromund navy.

They are presented as a neutral force, who guards and protects critical individuals and locations of note – but answer only to the Sovereign’s authority.

They are rightly viewed as an extension of the Royal Family, but ironically, are often more trusted because they execute no schemes of their own, and are respected for being skilled and powerful warriors in their own right. There are a multitude of Force-users in the Vizlavian ranks as a result of political marriages to lesser scions of House Beni’vel long ago, and they have carried on many Mandalorian military traditions.

However much of their Mandalorian identity has been lost or abandoned. While Mando’a is not completely forgotten, few speak it fluently. They do not consider themselves a ‘clan’ so much as a fraternal order sworn to maintain the supremacy of the Beni’vel Sovereign.

They did perhaps maintain one of the more important Mandalorian traditions – that of adoption and integration, though not in the same manner. Anyone can theoretically join the Vizlavian Guard – however, it is a privilege allowed to only those who prove themselves.

The Vizlavian Guard is an anomaly in a world dominated by familial institutions. They are the one institution that literally anyone can join – they possess a higher mission, and have higher standards as a result.

One must be skilled, dedicated, resilient, and loyal. The Guard has a series of tests for this known as the ‘Tal-Munad’ – or the ‘Trials of Joining.’ These push every applicant to their limits, and the trials are lethal in nature. Some are straightforward – such as testing one’s survival in the Kaasian jungles, or being questioned by a Vizlavian Force-user on one’s loyalties. Yet some are harrowing, and require being subjected to physical and mental anguish.

Some commoners are under a delusion that the Guard are a ticket to nobility. They are quickly debussed of this notion, or they learn too late the costs involved.

While many believe that this opportunity is primarily for the commoners, it is also open to any of the Aristocracy – the Guard does not discriminate. However, to join is to forsake everything you were or had before.

Your heritage. Your titles. Your wealth. Your authority. Your name. You are no longer of your noble house – you are part of the Guard, and will die as one of its members. Those who attempt to leave are made examples of.

There is also an element that ties into a practice that is drawn from Shae’s Redemptionary Battalions – for nobles who have disgraced themselves or are facing punishment, there is a way to spare themselves.

They can undertake the Tal-Munad.

It is a choice made out of desperation, and one that will almost certainly lead to their demise – but the Guard believes that there should be an avenue open to those who have disgraced themselves. While Shae’s Battalions were a false hope for its members, those who do pass the trials are fully accepted into the Guard unconditionally.

Technically, it requires the blessing of the Sovereign for the Vizlavian Guard to accept such an applicant, but historically, the Sovereigns have never denied their right to invoke this privilege.

The Guard holds a place within the Order’s psyche that is atypical, and one of almost unvarnished virtue. They are an example to aspire to, and the standard that children are taught to reach. An individual that is honest, direct, honorable, loyal, and pure. A childhood hero, in so many words, and it is not uncommon for a Vizlavian warrior to be the protagonist of children’s stories on Dromund Kaas.

Ironic, considering their origins.

Yet the Guard is so far removed from Clan Vizla that it is almost pointless to make comparisons. Though be wary of making assumptions based on children’s fables – while the Guard is presented as apolitical and virtuous, the violence and ruthlessness of their forebears is still an indelible aspect of their character.

All the Sovereign need do is issue an order, and their enemies are smote.

ON THE VIZLAVIAN WARRIORS

The role of the Vizlavian Guard within the context of the Kaasian noble systems has been covered, but what does that mean in practice? How would one describe the warriors of the Vizlavian Guard?

One will first note their attire. It is Mandalorian in design, or a clear derivative. Yet one will see that the plate is thicker, the armor bulkier, and often lacking many of the technological gadgets that are seen amongst Mandalorians you are more familiar with.

Some of this is a romantic holdover from the centuries of deprivation, where the Guard was forced to fight with limited resources, and lacked the technology their modern peers enjoyed. This has evolved into an ascetic tradition that spurns the frivolous nature of modernity. The Guard finds little appeal in grappling hooks, wrist rockets, and flamethrowers when a powerful blaster will do the trick more often than not.

There are differing opinions within the Vizlavian Guard as to what is acceptable, and what is not. You will find Vizlavians who adapt modern technology into their arsenal, and others who stubbornly retain their limited kit – comfortable with their current level of lethality. Often, those with the Force will eschew all augmenting technologies, while those without seek to hone their edge.

All of the Guard bears the colors of the Royal Family, either on the armor itself, or its numerous adornments. Many of them do not use jetpacks, due to such being impractical during the Dark Age. Those that do utilize a more primitive jetpack, which has limited bursts, and has a physical gliding component to it. It is a striking sight to see, and these particular Vizlavians are known as the Vizlavian Hunters, owing to their more aggressive and mobile style of combat.

However, the most common warrior is that for which this body was named: the Vizlavian Guardian. They hold a relatively simple role, and these warriors can be seen across Dromund Kaas and Fels alike. That said, they are most often concentrated within the territories and landmarks of the Royal Family.

They are highly skilled soldiers, who train against each other and their noble peers, and often test themselves against the elements and wildlife of Dromund Kaas itself. Do not let the name fool you – while their role is basic, their skillset makes them equivalent to some of the best soldiers you’d find in the Galactic Core, or Imperial Space.

Then there are the exemplars of the Guard, the elite of the elite.

Have you ever faced a Mandalorian Supercommando, dear reader? Have you heard the legends or perhaps seen the holovids? Have you ever imagined what such a force would become if they were also sensitive to the Force?

The Royal Family of Dromund Kaas is protected by such warriors. The Force-users of the Guard are without question the equal of many equivalents within the High Nobility. They devote their lives to the mastery of body, weapon, and mind.

They utilize no jetpacks, instead wearing capes that fall from their armored pauldrons. Their armor is slimmer than most, as they prioritize mobility over protection. They carry no lightsabers, for those are the weapons of the Aristocracy. Instead, they wield what is often associated with a less civilized age.

Flanged maces, spears, quarterstaves, war hammers; these primitive weapons and more fill the arsenal of these warriors. In the hands of the Vizlavian Praetorians, these become weapons of death. Once made out of durasteel, today these weapons are often forged from true beskar – while those that are not will be forged with a cortosis-weave. These Praetorians primarily serve as bodyguards or advisors to the Beni’vels, and on occasion, act as their voices or messengers.

They are the leaders of the Vizlavian Guard in deployments, only ultimately answering to the Shaen of the Vizlavian Guard – and of course, the Beni’vel nobles.

The Guard may no longer resemble a conventional Mandalorian force, but make no mistake, they will wage war like one.

ON MALOTA, SHAEN OF THE VIZLAVIAN GUARD

The Vizlavian Guard is a formidable organization, one that requires formidable leadership. They have millennia of history to live up to. Though they are appointed by the Sovereign, no one leads the Guard for any reason other than being the best. This is reflected in the title they take upon assuming their role. In honor of their forebear, the leader of the Vizlavian Guard takes the title ‘Shaen.’

While there are some exceptions throughout the Guard’s storied history, the Guard has almost exclusively been led by descendants of the old political marriages with the Beni’vel – some branches even claim descent from Shae Vizla herself. Due to the infusion of Beni’vel genes, these descendants maintain a strong propensity for Force-sensitivity. This is the real reason behind their continued dominance in the leadership, as the Guard eschews formal hereditary positions in favor of merit.

The Shaen of the Vizlavian Guard has two primary responsibilities – first, to lead the Guard and its operations, the second is to serve as an advisor for the reigning Sovereigns. It is purely at their pleasure, and unlike other advisors, the Vizlavian Shaen cannot offer unsolicited advice, even if they must be prepared to give it if asked.

Sometimes the Shaen is the most important and influential advisor to the Sovereign, and other times they are ignored altogether. Most Sovereigns tend to involve them to a lesser degree, but they are often considered less knowledgeable on certain matters of politics than others – which is a reasonable stance to take.

We come to the current Shaen of the Vizlavian Guard – Malota, a man who differs in some important ways from his predecessors. He is not the most physically imposing, nor even the most powerful of the Praetorians, but he has a skill that made Prince Arlon specifically handpick him for the role – he was good at politics.

Malota commands attention when parted from his helmet – his flame-colored hair a dead-giveaway of his relation to Shae Vizla herself. He was outgoing and charming, and was a rather popular figure throughout the Court – a relative rarity for any amongst the Guard.

He also has a holographic and audiographic memory; possessing perfect recollection concerning everyone he meets, and every conversation he takes part in – or overhears. Arlon, almost certainly realizing the usefulness of such a talent, began utilizing him in a more substantial role within the Royal Family. Combined with his rare political aptitude, Malota would become an invaluable tool in maintaining the cohesion of House Beni’vel.

Arlon had intended to have him take an active role in managing the internal Cliques in Beni’vel and helping unify the various viewpoints. Malota became one of Arlon’s primary advisors, with Arlon handling the external politics, and Malota handling the internal ones. Together, both could have likely created the strongest incarnation of the Royal Family in decades, if not centuries.

Alas, it was not to be.

With Arlon’s death, all such plans were abandoned. Malota has shifted his focus to first and foremost supporting the Princess-Regent, and in lieu of her husband, she has relied heavily on him to help maintain her standing within the Royal Family. While she has faced uncertainty as an outsider, Malota lacks this intrinsic bias, and has used his standing to push Copania’s direction within Beni’vel at her discreet request.

This is in addition to his duties commanding the Guard, though these are more standardized compared to the internal and external politics, and many can be delegated to others. Day-to-day, Malota can often be found accompanying the Princess-Regent or the Crown Prince, as he is one of the few people Copania trusts with her son and heir.

While Malota is not the most dangerous of the active Vizlavian Praetorians, his title speaks for itself, and he is a highly skilled warrior that is more than capable of facing any Jedi – or Sith. He is known to wield a beskar spear, along with a single-handed war hammer in combat – and is also a rather proficient practitioner of using telepathy in battle.

Malota was elevated to his position for a specific reason, and many had believed that with Arlon’s death, another would be elevated to the position – and internally, several of Copania’s advisors have suggested she do just that. However, it appears that the Princess-Regent is more in line with her late husband than present counsel.

And with how few individuals are firmly on her side, it is likely Malota will remain in his position until the Crown Prince sits on the throne.

ON THE SOVEREIGN EYES

Let us speak of pure conjecture and ceaseless rumor, dear reader. I’ve mentioned this group previously, and hinted at their connection to the Royal Family, but I offered no explanation. The reason is self-evident.

There is nothing to explain.

The Sovereign Eyes are a legend whispered in the dark corners at Court. A secret network of informants loyal to the Royal Family alone. They report back on the dealings of the nobles and the commoners alike. That they’ve never once been caught in the millennia of their supposed existence does little to quell the rumors.

What are we to make of this? Is it possible to create such an inscrutable organization? Agents who cannot be broken for they cannot be found? I’m tempted to write it all off as nonsense if not for the fact that the rumor persists amongst those who should know better. Surely it is not an act, else why continue the façade in private conversations?

On the surface, one assumes these are merely deeply-embedded operatives managed by the Shan Ciphers – and yet, the rumor is discussed as much by the Shans as any family.

From what we know – or rather, don’t – the Eyes are in plain sight, and always have been. A secret observer from the Palace, obvious and invisible at the same time. Not a threat to you, unless you make yourself a threat to stability – or to the Royal Family. Their purpose is to watch and listen and report and interpret. No more, no less.

The reigning Sovereign will determine what to do with such information, but the Eyes are simply a resource. They will never act to undermine, sabotage, or otherwise interfere – only watch. The Royal Family has other tools for taking direct action.

That is what is ‘known’ about the Sovereign Eyes, again, there is no physical or even circumstantial evidence that they exist or have ever existed. And yet, the Dromund Court treats them with a level of caution far in excess of all reason.

One wonders precisely at this paranoia, for the composition of many of the Aristocracy is not that of ordinary people, but those who are powerful in the Force. If one believed they were being watched, would it not be a simple matter to sense it? Why are the masters of subterfuge such as Shan or Xalek, or those masters of the dark arts like Drellik seemingly as ignorant as the Gentry?

There are two possible answers that are presented. Either it is indeed raw paranoia – subtle and insidious enough to infect all of the Aristocracy – or the Beni’vels possess a tool or power that no one else has nor can even conceive of what it might be.

It raises questions no matter the truth, yet often perception matters more than reality.

There was once a head of a Noble Family whose terror of the rumors grew from mere paranoia to outright mania. He saw Eyes everywhere. He saw them amongst his staff. He saw them amongst his family. He saw them amongst his children. And he acted on those fears.

For weeks he perpetrated unspeakable tortures upon his underlings, first only a few, with many confessing, in fact, and denouncing others in the household. The dungeons and graveyards alike rapidly swelled with occupants until the heir himself was accused. The Noble systematically killed his family in his quest to rid himself of the Eyes he saw, and he nearly succeeded but for a surprise raid on his estate by the Vizlavian Guard.

Upon realizing what was happening, the Noble slew as many of the perceived ‘traitors’ as he could before he was seized and the compound secured. Only the heir, two infants, and a handful of commoner servants had been spared in the Noble’s mad quest to purge his family of spies.

The Noble was brought before the Beni’vel Sovereign at the time and one can imagine what was done to him. A ritual of humiliation and torture that had not been seen since the days of Princess Orin, yet this time was supported by the entirety of the Court who were just as aghast and horrified by the slaughter.

He was first stripped of all his privileges – beginning with his titles, and concluding with his connection to the Force. His death was slow. Excruciating mental and physical torment was inflicted for hours – one for each of his victims. The spectacle lasted for days without pause. During the process, the Sovereign prevented the loss of his sanity, forcing him to remain aware for each agonizing moment before concluding his execution in a deliciously cruel manner – pun intended. The condemned former Noble was consumed by Khem Val, the personal dashade guardian of the Sovereign.

Ironically, far from dissuading the believers, this fracas is still referenced as evidence of the existence of the Sovereign Eyes. The purge was pure madness, but it was also done in secret at an isolated estate. Most believe the Noble’s prolonged death was intended as a warning to any who wished to investigate this rumor further.

A warning that they would fail in the attempt, and that all that awaited them was a fate where one longed for death.

It is the enduring mystery of the Dromund Court, and the Beni’vels themselves. An enigma, dear reader, perhaps one you will unravel yourself.

ON RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORDERS

Now, considering the history Nox has with more than one of the Sith whose Orders grace our Collective, it is natural to wonder of the relationship the Order of Darth Nox has with these esteemed Orders.

All remain cognizant of the One Rule.

No one forgets it.

The Order of Revan is discussed in their respective chapter, but it is again necessary to highlight the distaste both Orders have for each; an enmity that runs deep, even if pragmatism and fear of violating the One Rule ensures that this enmity remains only that – distaste.

To go further risks more than either Order is willing to endure.

The Order of Nox considers the Order of Revan to be pretenders to a false legacy of a man who is best remembered as a traitor to Jedi and Sith alike. As far as they are concerned, they are the only Order who can hold legitimate claim to the bloodline and legacy of Revan. Any others are pretenders – and they hold no small amount of pride in Nox’s triumph over this pretender.

As one can easily infer, they cordially detest one another. There is little else to say.

It is their relations with the other two Orders of note – Jadus and Vitiate – that are worth a closer examination.

Nox’s relationship to Emperor Jadus was one of tension – but ultimately not conflict. Not because Nox did not disagree, or even despise Jadus – but because of wariness. Some might claim fear.

For no one, not Nox, not Marr, not even the Emperor’s Wrath was ever able or willing to challenge Jadus’s rule as emperor. Nox held deep philosophical and ideological differences with the esteemed Emperor – but her respect, tempered by fear, stayed her hands and mouth.

Would the Kaasian Nobility bristle at such a claim? Would they denounce it? Deny it? Perhaps, but the truth does not discriminate, and I have little interest in pretending that Nox held equivalency to Emperor Jadus during his reign. After all, if she did, then Jadus would not have ruled without challenge, would he?

It is all the more notable that echoes of this dynamic have once more emerged between the Order of Darth Nox and the Order of Emperor Jadus.

A dynamic of pretend indifference to the other – masked by a healthy fear. The esteemed Darth Timoris visited Dromund Kaas only once since founding of her Order, and she has left an indelible impression on the Court and on Nox itself. With a single visit, Darth Timoris changed the course of the Order of Nox. Chaos has engulfed the Royal Family with the death of their Sovereign, and now we wait to see how the Court adapts.

A message, some might claim. A warning, others would say. Incentive, more have proposed.

Why? Or for what?

That is a matter between both Orders. I do not have the answer.

The fact remains that the Order of Jadus is the singular Order to whom the Order of Nox will be conciliatory, if not deferential to. Is it submission? Or is it an alignment of interests? Is this relationship adversarial? Or are they an ally?

Much may not be as it seems, and at Court, appearances are deceptive. What we might see as a display of weakness may be a ploy, of which both Sith and the Kaasian Nobility enjoy engaging in.

Though one must be careful to see the truth, and not fall to assumptions or stereotypes. What we see with our eyes and hear with our ears – or whatever organs are appropriate to you, dear reader – may be exactly as it seems. I have not the insight or mind to judge or decide one way or another.

That is for you, reader. When dealing with the Order of Nox, you must be able to pierce the veil, and separate truth from lies.

Concerning relations with the Order of Emperor Vitiate – the simple, curious answer is that neither Order particularly engages with the other. The Order of Vitiate has not sought to meet, and the Order of Nox has reciprocated in kind. This mutual choice is notable in and of itself.

Is it uneasiness? Apathy? Wariness? Or merely that the historical links between Nox and Vitiate were too brief and tenuous for either to justify the effort in developing a friendly – or adversarial – relationship?

Or perhaps this is nothing consequential. A mystery that was not to be.

Of course, alliances and enmities can develop and evolve and cease a thousand times over. Until this point, however, keep what has been written here in mind, reader.

The final Order of note is the Order of Emperor Palpatine. As mentioned above, Palpatine has sent observers to Court on numerous occasions, and Darth Altis has been hosted and toasted at several soirées. The true nature of this relationship, however, is opaque, as all true diplomacy should be, and whether or not it extends to the Order of Nox as a whole or merely the Dromund Court is open to interpretation.

Ponder what you have learned – and employ it to your advantage.

CONCLUSION

I believe that covers everything.

Well, for one final matter.

There is one topic that I have avoided throughout this chapter, one that I wonder if you considered initially, before it faded from your mind. If I have done an adequate enough job, the picture that I have painted in your mind is one of a certain fantasy, one with courts, intrigue, old families, schemes, and plots – all of which is true.

It is a fantastical tale, one that may even have a certain appeal.

I have written at length about the Aristocracy, the dynamics of Court, and the characters driving the intrigue on the Dromund worlds – but I have not addressed perhaps a very relevant question for you.

How might one join this Order?

The answer may disappoint you.

Unlike the other Orders which comprise the Collective, the Order of Darth Nox, for reasons that are likely clearer, does not accept outsiders. This is not a formal organization, or even a state, but a composition of dynasties, aristocrats, and noble families.

They do not ‘recruit’ new members, and profess little or no interest in attracting talent beyond the families and citizens of the Dromund worlds. It is likely they would find few takers even if they did so, because I suspect few would look at the labyrinth that is the Order of Darth Nox, and enter it willingly.

Perhaps you are the exception?

Read on, if you are, for there is a narrow pathway for the truly committed.

For those who are particularly clever, ambitious, and possess something of worth… well, there may be a way to integrate yourself within this opaque Order.

One must be exceptional to even be considered for elevation into the Aristocracy – especially as an outsider. You are a stranger to them. You are alien in worldview and culture. You are different. You have every disadvantage.

But that alone cannot stop you, can it?

Disadvantages do not translate to impossibilities. Indeed, there are several Sith who have sought to enter the Order of Nox and join the ranks of the Aristocracy, be it through distinguishing themselves with feats of cleverness or strength, impressing members of the High Nobility, or even the Royal Family, or simply marrying into one of the Houses.

For a particularly powerful and dashing Sith, that is often quite attractive to many nobles who wish that power for themselves – though you must ask yourself what you are worth. A question that I cannot answer, only to encourage you to not settle.

Do you still wish to pursue this?

Let none stop you if so, for now you comprehend what you enter. You elect to leave the familiar, and embrace the unknown and alien. You reject the comfort and clarity of this life, and enter into the exciting intrigue and secrets of old families and scheming houses.

I can assure you – this is unlike any other Order in the Collective. It is one that will consume you – or one you will thrive in. I can see little in-between, for the Court is merciless to those who make mistakes, and smothering to the unambitious.

Yet do not let this alone dissuade you. Power, opportunity, and belonging are all things that can be achieved within the Order of Darth Nox.

It merely requires the resolve to seize them.

Tread carefully, should you elect to walk the halls of the Dromund Court, reader.

I would hate to learn of your untimely demise if you do not.

Chapter Text

SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

ON THE WORLDS OF THE SITH COLLECTIVE

ON THE PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

Let us pause for a moment, reader.

Relax. Breathe. Contemplate.

I have outlined in great detail several of the Orders that make up our Collective. Their philosophies, their leaders, their histories, and their ambitions. From how they organize themselves, to who their followers are – I trust that you now have a deeper understanding and appreciation not only of the breadth of Sith philosophy, but of each Order in turn.

But this is merely an insular look at a single organization, even one as rich as a Sith Order.

Each Order is part of the Sith Collective, but I have said little detailing what this means until now.

Alliances between Sith, especially in this manner, are fraught with mistrust, deceit, and suspicion – not without reason. I have outlined how Lady Vathila identified this crippling paranoia and ideological incompatibility as a weakness – and dealt with the Banites in a most decisive fashion when they refused to integrate.

You have doubtless picked up certain elements and aspects of the wider Sith Collective, but you have no clear picture, as I have not elaborated what we are like in practice.

Let me remedy that.

Pause for a moment, reader. Reflect on what you have learned, and ask yourself what the Sith Collective could be.

What do you imagine? What do you expect?

Do you see a robust, interconnected alliance? A fragmented confederation of Orders sharing an overarching goal? Or perhaps you do not even expect this much, but instead envision an enemy of my enemy expedient tempered by suspicion and paranoia.

The truth is rarely so straightforward.

Each Sith Order has its unique talents and foci; each possesses its own distinct philosophy and worldview. Some are naturally more suited to certain tasks and objectives than others.

Few would dispute the imperial acumen of the Order of Snoke, or the adroit politicking of the Order of Palpatine, or the warrior spirit of the Orders of Revan, Krayt, and Kaan.

I simplify, reader, but you understand the point I make – each Order is a piece of the grand effort to conquer the galaxy, and destroy the Jedi. To this end, a simple alliance where we are merely aligned in goal and nothing more is insufficient for victory.

We would have been discovered and ruined long ago if this is the case.

So let us speak of the Sith Collective.

It is, in some respects, a new experience. Some will point to the older Sith empires and orders, and claim that these were also periods where the Sith were, by and large, united. Partially true, but it ignores something substantial – each of these empires were dominated by singular overarching individuals.

Ones who were often… unkind to their ideological rivals. And even then, this merely suppressed the dissidence, it did not remove it. Vitiate’s absence allowed Jadus to rise, and Jadus’s fall allowed Nox to ascend. The Rule of Two allowed each Sith to forge and develop their own philosophy free of fear of betrayal or being overthrown.

The Sith Collective is not merely an incarnation of our people like in the past – it is the equivalent of the Empires of Ragnos, Vitiate, Revan, Jadus, Nox, Palpatine, the First Order, and Kaan’s Brotherhood all brought together and working towards a singular goal.

Do you grasp the absurdity when presented like it?

Yet it exists all the same.

Hence why this is new territory for our people – and by the Force, we will hold to this discipline until the galaxy is in the hands of Sith.

The Sith Collective is, as stated previously, not a simple alliance, but enables ongoing coordination between Orders on the objectives, priorities, and goals of the Sith as a whole. The High Council of the Sith Collective is the highest mechanism to discuss and address these matters.

I have decided to highlight the Sith Collective in more detail in this section because it is where this cooperation manifests most directly, and the breadth of the Sith Collective can be most easily visualized.

The worlds we shall now discuss are not controlled by any single Order, but are instead managed by Sith from multiple Orders, whose purpose is integral to our shared mission. It is here we prepare for the coming war, where future generations are raised, where our warriors train, and where our leaders plot the downfall of our enemies.

It is on these worlds that we are able to orient ourselves to the only goal that matters – free of the distraction and plotting of our forebears.

You have almost certainly already stepped upon one of these worlds – and contingent upon your success, you will one day walk many more.

ON CLASSIFICATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS

Not all Sith worlds are created equally, or for the same purpose. The Collective classifies the worlds under our dominion differently depending on a number of factors and needs, and it is worth highlighting these classifications before proceeding, as this framework is necessary to understanding where each one falls in the grander plan.

The first major category is the Academy Worlds. This should be self-explanatory, reader. It is upon these worlds that Sith are raised or trained in the ways of our people, and able to hone themselves to the sharpest edge possible. This also encompasses worlds which serve as centers of knowledge, history, or learning, as there are many Sith who seek to expand their knowledge on numerous matters. These are relatively few in number, and each one specialized for a certain demographic.

The second major category is the Citadel Worlds. These encompass the bulk of Sith worlds from a purely numeric standpoint, and have the most diverse set of functions. Each holds a direct role in the coming war effort.

Some are outposts that monitor and defend points of interest, others are fortresses and bastions, some are command centers where battle plans are drawn and contingencies plotted, while some are worlds within the territory of the enemy.

Not all Citadel Worlds are equal in importance, but each of them is carefully chosen, cultivated, and exploited to serve a clear purpose. When new worlds are claimed or established for the Collective, they are almost always Citadel Worlds, for as the war approaches, the stronger we must become.

The final category is the Core Worlds. These are special worlds, each of them unique and serving an important role to all Sith. Some are places of power. Some have Sith history and lore tied to them. Regardless, each is irreplaceable. Unlike Citadel Worlds which can and are expected to be lost in war – the Core Worlds cannot be so easily forsaken.

Some Core Worlds tend toward the latter categories, and there is sporadic debate about their proper classification – but all recognize that they cannot be lost or sacrificed needlessly, and among the worlds of the Sith Collective, they are recognized as the most important and prestigious.

ON NAMES AND CONTROLS

Before we begin our discussion of the worlds themselves, there are several more aspects that are important to understand – the first is that you will find no planets in the star charts with the names the Collective has given them. That which they were or are called before does not matter.

You will not know every world under our control unless you are among the most powerful of the Sith, nor will you be explicitly told their original names. There is a layer of intentional obfuscation and complexity here, and the reason for this is twofold.

The first is for security. We are not blind to the possibility that there are those among our number who will desert, flee, or betray us – especially when they first arrive amongst us. But if they dare to take this step and share what they know with the enemy, they will struggle to share anything of worth about our worlds. They can recall the name they were given, but the Jedi will find no matches.

The second reason is as a contingency. With the exception of the Core Worlds, each planet we possess is not one that is irreplaceable. If an Academy or Citadel World were to be lost, its function could be replicated elsewhere. We are not attached in sentimental ways to these worlds – their purpose will not change, even if their location does.

In this way the integrity of the Collective is preserved – the loss of a single, a dozen, or even the majority of worlds is merely an obstacle, not a crippling blow, for those who plot within the Collective have prepared for every possibility. If there comes a time where we are forced to depart a world, despair not, for its successor has already been determined.

You may be wondering, if we obscure the names of these planets, how are they known amongst us?

There are many Sith in our history who will only receive passing mentions, if not ignored altogether, in the course of these lessons. There are many Sith who made certain contributions to the cause, or were notable in some way – but who do not have an Order of their own. Perhaps they were mere exemplars of our kind, perhaps they are respected, but they lack a following, perhaps their time has simply come and gone.

Nonetheless, those Sith have memories worth preserving and honoring, despite lacking the impact and gravitas invoked by those Sith who have Orders around them. Thus, we honor them by conferring upon our worlds their names. It is likely you will recognize some of these names, and just as likely that they will be unknown to you.

As for why these names were chosen and not others, well, that is a question you may ask the High Council, if you wish. It is simply the case that some Sith will remain obscure, and the worlds in the Collective are limited in number. This may change in the future as the Collective expands, and more Sith can be honored.

The way these worlds are administered is also important, for it places the cooperation of the Sith Collective at its center. At any one time, a world is managed or led by a representative of one Sith Order, who is jointly supported by the other Sith Orders. However, this position is not a permanent one.

Each Sith world has terms of leadership, the length of which depends on the world in question, and when this term has ended, the Sith Collective will choose another. In this way, it ensures that there is no permanent stranglehold of any singular Order. Even if they do not lead, it is common for most Orders to have a presence or responsibilities, even if those are subordinate to the leader at the time.

This administrative method has proven successful, as while some Orders will become regular stewards of worlds, there are often two to three others they rotate this responsibility with.

This preamble has continued long enough. I have provided sufficient context and history – let us discuss the worlds of the Sith Collective.

ON NADD, SITH ACADEMY OF INITIATION

One is likely to be of two minds about the subject of children within the Sith – almost certainly depending on one’s own upbringing and initiation into our Collective. There are those who were raised under Sith instruction, and will perhaps have fond, formative memories of this time in their lives.

And there are those who may be surprised that there is any organized instruction for children at all.

It is not a wholly surprising perspective – the contemporary Sith are hardly known for nurturing younglings, and even in our history, Sith education has properly begun when they are young adults. Yet what is a mother or family to do when they have a child of their own? Teach them themselves? Instruct them in everything they need to know?

Some do. One might even argue that this is the proper Sith approach to parentage, but you will find no agreement on this topic, nor particularly strong feelings from the majority – whether they have children of their own or not.

For this reason, there exists Nadd, upon which is the Sith Academy of Instruction. It is named for the Sith Freedon Nadd, who needs little introduction, as many know his exploits. Still, it was under his instruction that some of the most powerful Sith were cultivated – particularly Exar Kun. Thus, the Nadd Academy aspires to produce individuals with similar potential and power.

All children who are born to Sith are welcome to be enrolled in this place of learning. You might imagine that this Academy is one focused on proper Sith instruction, but it is not the case. Understand that while the majority of children are Force-sensitive, there are some who are not, and generally speaking, much of the instruction will be the same.

Proper instruction in the ways of the Force and Sith culture comes later, when children are older and able to comprehend and endure what is necessary to become Sith.

Before this, they must have the necessary tools and knowledge. One will find what is taught on Nadd quite… conventional. Basic academic subjects, from reading to math are in its catalog. In instruction, the Academy may not be too dissimilar to schools in the ‘civilized’ parts of the galaxy – with some slight exceptions, such as Sith history and basic instruction on the usage of the Force for those who possess the capability.

When one visits Nadd, they cannot help but smile when they see the throngs of children who learn and play within its walls. It is also the only Academy that has established a larger community around it, consisting of parents who intend to remain part of their children’s lives. These communities are in nearby neighborhoods, and many children will visit their families regularly.

Now, there are certainly some exceptions to the idea that all children born from the Orders attend the Nadd Academy. There are Sith who will raise their children on their own, as mentioned previously, and there are also Orders who can be better described as civilizations unto themselves, such as Snoke and Nox, who have no need of this institution.

Such choices are perfectly valid – it is ultimately the choice of the parent to decide what is best for their children, yet there are clearly many who see the benefits of Nadd’s instruction, and are thankful for it.

Students will graduate from Nadd at around fourteen years of age – from which many of them will then be sent to Talon, where they will be trained to become full Sith.

Few Orders have extensive experience with conventional instruction, let alone with children, yet there are several Orders who have taken regular leadership of the Academy. The Order of Snoke has the most experience owing to their own educational facilities, and they are often selected for terms on Nadd.

However, there are a few other Orders who have developed their own approaches. If Snoke represents the most ‘conventional’ method of instruction, the Order of Traya is willing to be more experimental in how it organizes itself and teaches subjects – they tend to take a more flexible approach to individual instruction.

The Order of Kaan is another who has vied for leadership on a regular basis, who primarily believe in fostering closer bonds between students, and encouraging a more physical, militant, and recreational curriculum – both to encourage camaraderie, and prepare them for their eventual place in the coming conflict.

It is not to say that other Orders have not vied for leadership, but this trio have become the most entrenched and experienced, and who is selected for each term depends on how satisfied the Orders are with the output of Nadd.

Each Order has a substantial presence at this Academy – it holds the future, after all.

Regardless of leadership, I believe most Sith are in agreement that the formation of such an Academy is a welcome development. Once more, there are children who are being raised as they should be – under the careful instruction and watchful eye of the Sith Lords.

ON TALON, SITH ACADEMY OF TRIALS

I expect that this world will be one many readers are intimately familiar with – Talon, the Sith Academy of Trials. The place where one is truly tested and learns what it means to be Sith. Where the prepared blades of Nadd, or the dulled swords of seekers across the galaxy, become honed and lethal.

Talon is for two specific demographics of Sith – the first is graduates from Nadd, who come to Talon to realize their talent, and become true Sith. The second are those Force-users in the galaxy unaffiliated with the Jedi, in whom Sith recruiters see potential. Sometimes they come from smaller Force-using sects such as the Dathomiri Witches, Gray Paladins, or even the Luka Sene. Sometimes they are self-taught, and sometimes they do not even know the potential inside them.

Yet here they come, and here they learn.

To become Sith is no easy task. No Order will accept the incompetent and weak merely because they endured some arbitrary process. No, the process itself must be demanding, it must be difficult, but it must be useful. The Talon Academy dispenses with the one-size-fits-all methods employed by previous Sith Orders, and instead determines what the student is interested in, and where their aptitudes lie.

Some initiates are warriors, and it is a simple matter to tailor their training towards the martial arts. Some have a talent for sorceries and the arcane, and are subsequently molded into conduits of the Force. Some prefer to delve into the deepest mysteries of the Sith, poring over ancient texts and artifacts to unearth secrets of Sith lore.

No matter one’s interests, they will inform their journey in becoming Sith. Do not fear if you do not ‘fit’ with your conception of what the Sith expect – the title of Sith is yours to define.

Not all Sith were battlefield warriors or sorcerers, and we sabotage ourselves by using such small-minded, narrow definitions. One need not slay a dozen worlds singlehandedly to be considered a full member of our Collective.

The Jedi embrace their scientists, philosophers, historians, and explorers – thus, the Sith must as well, lest we deprive ourselves of these valuable individuals. No, not merely embrace them – we must empower them.

So we do.

It is in this Academy where the Orders have perhaps their strongest presence in the context of the greater Collective. Not simply because each often contributes to the teachings of subjects, but because it is here where the initiate will choose which Order they wish to join – and the Orders will attempt to recruit those who they believe would benefit them.

There are some restrictions on this element of instruction – so as to maintain a certain neutrality – but in reality, there is an understanding that recruitment is a necessary part of the Academy, and these students are adults. They cannot be coddled any longer, and they must make their own decisions. If they are swayed by one Order over another, then that is the fault of the Order that failed to make an appropriate case.

To graduate from Talon is an honor few in the galaxy will enjoy – they, who are recognized as full Sith, and who now take the first step upon their chosen path.

This Academy is named for Darth Talon, one of the most dangerous, and infamous, of the One Sith of Darth Krayt. One of his most feared assassins, and a deadly warrior who slew many Jedi. A weapon honed to its sharpest edge. May those who enter and depart Talon echo her power, strength, and resolve.

The Orders who tend to lead this Academy primarily fall to those who have experience and interest in managing not only larger Orders, but those who represent different factions, and seek to influence them. It is for this reason that leadership tends to fall to three Orders, each of whom have different approaches to the management of the Academy.

The first is the Order of Marka Ragnos, which takes a harder line against the recruitment plots the Orders conduct amongst themselves. Ragnos is strict in maintaining the tutelage within Talon, while also lessening the influence of the Orders on the students, as they see it as a disruptive force. While the Orders do not necessarily endorse the hardline stance of Ragnos, they are tolerant of them taking the term because it is an equalizer where no favoritism exists whatsoever – including from the Order of Marka Ragnos itself.

In contrast to this is the Order of Revan, who takes a far more relaxed approach to the matter of Order recruitment pre-graduation. While Revan does not play favorites, they have allowed it to reach a point of openness that smaller Orders, and those adhering to more honorable conduct, resent. The Order of Revan has stepped in on occasion for the exceptionally egregious instances of organized recruitment – but some are suspicious of their motivations for doing so.

The last Order that has been regularly selected to this term is the Order of Kaan, which takes something of a middle ground between the two. Kaan does not crack down as hard as Ragnos, nor is as permissive as Revan, but instead tries to promote an equality and unity between each Order. If they see one Order becoming too active, they will actively work to promote other Orders to equalize the possibilities.

Kaan is seen from this perspective as a double-edged sword, where one must be careful, lest your pushing ends up backfiring – and more than a few are acutely aware that Kaan drives these interventions, and their intentions may be less than altruistic. However, it is often agreed that the motivations of Kaan ultimately balance out, and who is selected to this term is often a choice made based on strategy, experience, and at the end of the day, luck.

For all Sith Orders, it is here where their future members and leaders are recruited. It should be no surprise that such activities take place, for it is perhaps the difference between success and failure – or life and death.

ON SADOW, SITH ACADEMY OF ILLUMINATION

This is a world that I suspect many may not know exists, or have heard only rumors about – and one a few of you readers may be currently residing within.

Sadow, Sith Academy of Illumination.

It is a fine title; perhaps a grand one, though one that intentionally obscures its purpose as a place where those who come from the Jedi are sent to learn the ways of the Sith. It is a simple matter to leave the Jedi Order – it is more common than you might expect. Yet it is again, simple. Easy, even.

It is a more difficult matter to become Sith. There are those who are of the belief that the Sith are eager and willing to embrace any Jedi who demonstrates the slightest interest in our people. Trite and outdated propaganda

Come now, reader. The issues with such an approach should be obvious.

Jedi can be shrewd and dangerous. Some possess the mindset, ability, and will to commit heinous acts, and allow corruption into themselves, in pursuit of a higher ideal or goal – especially the modern Jedi Order. We see this kind of commitment even in non-Jedi sects, such as the Quabular. Proving one’s intentions by forcing them to commit atrocity is no longer an acceptable criterion.

Nor is it a genuine one.

Sadow is for the Jedi to learn what it means to be Sith. It is to undo their years of indoctrination; to break the chains imposed upon their mind and heart. From this crucible emerges a true Sith whose past is not a millstone, but a source of strength.

You might describe Sadow as a gilded cage. A quarantine world. A reeducation camp. It is styled as an Academy, but the training that takes place is rarely of the body or Force – most Jedi possess the ability to wield their power proficiently. Instead, it is their minds that must unlearn, and learn again.

It is not a simple or easy process. To change one’s worldview and core values does not come without struggle. So deep is the poison of the Jedi, that it may require months or years of work and teaching before they are illuminated succinctly.

There are stricter standards within Sadow concerning instruction. For the Sith instructors must be understanding, but firm. They must be welcoming, but vigilant. They must be instructive, but not overbearing. Often only the best teachers are allowed on Sadow, for they are not instructing mere younglings, but facilitating the conversion of Jedi into something greater.

Have you wondered why there is so little stigma among those who were formerly Jedi within our Collective? Why so few seem concerned about the possibility of subversion and infiltration despite the fact that many former Jedi not only hold positions of importance, but lead entire Sith Orders?

This is why. Sadow weeds out the sincere from the fraudulent; from those who can embrace our teachings, and those whose minds are forever closed. Anyone who emerges from Sadow is as true a Sith as those who come from Talon.

Do not forget this. Never insinuate or question their allegiance. You will be… reprimanded. If they receive accolades which you think you deserve instead, then earn them. If a former Jedi is a better Sith than you – perhaps examine why that is.

I digress.

What is done with those who have not the mettle or intention of becoming Sith?

They never leave Sadow.

I trust I need not elaborate on this.

This Academy is named for Naga Sadow, whose power and exploits I need not recount. However, this Academy was not named for him for those feats, but rather what he did after his death – the conversion of Freedon Nadd to the Sith, another man who would become one of the greatest of our numbers.

Perhaps there will be an individual of similar power who will emerge from Sadow, and leave their own mark on history.

Concerning those who manage the Sadow Academy, the seriousness and importance of its mission demands those who not only have an ability to train, but also to understand Jedi, convert them, and observe them. Three Orders have emerged to execute this mission, each one with their respective strengths, though each working closely together regardless of which one formally leads the term.

When it comes to Sadow, leadership is less concerned with competition and ideology, and more a preordained arrangement. Petty power plays and ambitions are left behind here, for understandable reasons, and these three Orders fill a purpose that the others cannot.

The Order of Emperor Jadus is vigilance. They maintain a strong presence on Sadow for the purposes of observing, interrogating, and judging the Jedi who cross its thresholds.

The Order of Emperor Palpatine is conversion, as there are few who know how best to sway minds, make arguments, and corrupt traditions more than they.

Then there is the Order of Lord Kaan, who is understanding. The Order of Kaan is the most similar to the Jedi, and many of their members are former Jedi. They understand the Jedi on a deeper level than most, and often know how best to truly make them embrace the ways of the Sith, and shatter the invisible shackles holding them back.

Sadow is a strict Academy, on a harsh world, that will challenge those who enter it in ways they have never imagined – yet it is necessary, for those who emerge are Sith in the purest sense of the word.

ON MALGUS, SITH ACADEMY OF WAR

The last of the Academy Worlds is one possessing a different function and mission. Unlike the others, attendance is not mandatory. It is a purely optional endeavor for Sith across the Collective, as following their graduation from Talon or Sadow, their basic, mandatory education is met.

Yet if you want to demonstrate your commitment to the Sith, or expect to rise to the position of power and authority, you will spend at least some time on Malgus, upon which resides the Sith Academy of War.

Sith innately understand many aspects of conflict. It is in our nature, and something each is experienced in on some level – yet the intimate combat found on a battlefield does not translate into proficiency concerning the higher aspects of war. This refers to grand strategy, matters of logistics, and the dirty, messy aspects of war that many prefer to not think about – when’s the last time you saw a major holovid starring a quartermaster?

Yet understanding these is critical if we wish to wage a successful campaign against our enemy.

I can assure you that the Jedi, the Alliance, and the Imperium prepare and master all theaters of warfare, from the glory found on the battlefields, to the logistical minutiae of grand strategy that ensures their soldiers and warriors are fed, supplied, and armed with knowledge and intelligence.

Furthermore, any Sith can refine their tactics on the battlefield itself, but to hone one’s skills in higher aspects of war requires more dedication. When intellect and might are combined, it makes for a formidable combination.

This is what Malgus offers the Sith Collective.

Darth Malgus, the Academy’s namesake, was one of the greatest warriors of the Sith. A man whose prowess on the battlefield was legendary, and matched by his keen strategic mind that led the Sith Empire to numerous tactical victories. Many Sith tend to master one form of war over another, but Malgus applied himself to both, and was rewarded with glory, influence, and power.

Power that rivaled Emperor Jadus himself at the time, before his ignoble downfall – but that is a story for another time. Merely understand that Malgus understood what it meant to be Sith, how to wage galactic war – and holds a legacy all Sith would do well to heed.

So, what will you find on Malgus? What is taught? What is learned?

Every aspect of warfare you can conceptualize. From the high-level elements of a successful grand strategy, to how to ensure that you can maintain a logistical system on an invaded world, to maintaining an occupation in the face of partisan opposition. Students are pitted against each other in war games, and against instructors, where their decisions and choices will lead to their triumph or downfall.

Those who instruct within Malgus are merciless and relentless. This is no Academy for the arrogant and the immature. You are Sith now, and are expected to display a certain competency and intelligence. You are expected to learn from your betters, and improve yourself when shown how to do so.

To graduate from this Academy is not merely a demonstration of intelligence, commitment, resolve, and authority – it is an accomplishment that will open doors into the highest ranks of the Sith, no matter what Order you are a part of. You demonstrate your ability to operate on a higher level than your peers – and will receive your just rewards.

It will not be easy. If you believe this to be some simple supplementary education, you are gravely mistaken. War is a matter of life and death, victory and defeat, and this ethos is reflected in the seriousness of its training. Your mistakes could result in our doom, or be our salvation – let the incompetent weed themselves out early. It is for this reason that you must consider carefully before you decide to enter this Academy.

I will recommend that you gain some experience as a Sith before pursuing an education at this level, but I also recommend that you make this attempt later in your life. You may not have the mind of a strategist, but you should understand what to do if you somehow find yourself in command of soldiers or Sith – ensure your decisions do not waste these resources.

As for the Orders who lead this Academy? Those whose respective Sith already have some talent and experience in this field. The Orders of Snoke and Revan often vie for the honor of leading this institution, as no other Orders have as much practical experience as these – though they will occasionally be usurped by the Order of Darth Krayt, whose members exhibit their own mastery in this theater.

Yet no matter who leads, the purpose and strictness of the Academy does not change. Do you have what it takes to graduate from this esteemed Academy? I suspect you do, reader.

You are Sith.

Anything can be achieved – if you have the power and resolve to realize it.

ON RUIN, THE FORTRESS WORLDS

Here we begin our exploration of the Citadel Worlds, which have significantly different missions and organization compared to the individual worlds that comprise the Academies and Core Worlds.

Ruin is not a single world. It does not even refer to a specific sector of our territory. It is a declaration of its mission. Just as Darth Ruin brought war to the Jedi Order, initiating yet another schism in the Jedi and the galaxy, so too will the Sith Collective bring the standing galactic order to its knees.

These are also known as the Fortress Worlds, as each one is intended to have a strategic, tangible purpose in the coming conflict. Each one resides on the edges of explored space, some of them only a few systems away from Alliance and Imperial worlds, though a few are within the lawless Outer Rim itself.

They act as staging points for our armies and fleets, chokepoints to gain strategic advantages, and defense outposts for when the inevitable retaliation comes. Each one is self-sufficient and able to defend against entire armies – as such will be expected in the conflict. For each Ruin claimed, there will be a bloody price extracted.

How expansive is this wall of Fortress Worlds you may wonder? How many lurk outside the powers that be?

I do not know. No one but the High Council and a few ranking members of the Orders know the true number of Ruin. This grand picture is something that I am not privileged to know, nor are the majority of Sith. The reason for this is simple – when the war commences, there will be Sith who inevitably end up in the hands of the Jedi and Imperium.

They will be interrogated. Their secrets will be spilled. It is simply the nature of war. In this instance, it is preferable that ignorance prevail rather than the Jedi learning their locations and focusing their efforts.

Of course, this raises a question – if the true scale is unknown, how are the Fortress Worlds managed and populated? How are they identified if not by name? The answer is that they are not – not to us, at least. Their only differentiation is their individual coordinates. Each of these worlds is called Ruin – without any additional designators.

Sith will only ever be assigned to one Ruin. They will not rotate to different ones, nor call their assignment anything but Ruin. It is for the good of the Collective that we guard this secret. Perhaps if you rise high enough, you will be granted the privilege of knowing the grand design the High Council orchestrates.

As for those who command these worlds, each Ruin has its own leader chosen from the Orders residing on it. Given the purpose of these worlds, they naturally draw the interest of more militant and martial-focused Orders who long for open war and see little place for subterfuge.

As a result, the Orders who tend to be selected to lead each Ruin come from the Orders of Darth Revan, Darth Krayt, Lord Kaan, and Emperor Vitiate. It is not to say that other Orders have not had individuals selected for command, but they are a strict minority, even if one can typically find a relatively diverse mixture of Orders on any given Ruin.

These are our first line of defense when the war begins – and I expect that when it commences, these Fortress Worlds will grow in number, and function as a noose slowly closing around the throat of the galaxy.

ON ZANNAH, THE SHADOW WORLDS

Above I have outlined the worlds which are on the edges of settled galactic civilization – now let us discuss their counterpart.

If Ruin are the turbolasers aimed towards the heart of the galaxy, then Zannah are the knife held above its back. The Shadow Worlds – despite technically being Citadel Worlds – serve a much different function for the coming war.

They reside within what is understood to be galactic civilization – primarily within the Alliance, though there are a few fringe minor worlds within Imperial Space. On the surface, little appears amiss, and their purpose is to attract little attention – yet in the shadows we thrive, and dominate.

Zannah serve many different functions. They are operational hubs in the heart of enemy territory, intelligence outposts where information is gathered, reviewed, and employed, safe houses for our agents and allies in the galaxy, and of course, a primary vector of our hidden influence throughout galactic civilization.

Many of these worlds are fringe; isolated backwaters who are so divorced from the centers of power that they barely exist but for a cell on a spreadsheet. Those who live on them lead simple lives, with limited ambitions, and tend to not hold strong views on the galaxy beyond their own planets.

Perfect for our needs.

The name for these worlds may give you pause, reader, given the standing position of the Collective on Darth Bane and the Rule of Two, whom Darth Zannah was closely connected to. While the Rule of Two is a flawed and incompatible ideology with the Sith Collective, one cannot deny that it served its purpose well. It allowed the Sith to survive for a thousand years, and while Bane founded this philosophy, it was his Apprentice, Darth Zannah, who proved its merit.

She was an exemplar of the Sith of this era, remaining in the shadows, cultivating her strength and knowledge, and manipulating and influencing those around her. Masks and identities were laid upon each other, misdirection and disinformation were tools she mastered, all while preparing for a future where the Sith would rule once more. If this part of our history should be honored, it is best that it bear the name Zannah.

Like Ruin, Zannah are similarly controlled on a per-planet basis, and organized in the same way, though I have learned that even fewer individuals beyond the High Council know the extent of Zannah, or how deep they reach into the galaxy.

If there are political movements or governments on any Zannah, they are under our influence. If there are corporate or independent efforts, they also answer to us. There is nothing on Zannah that we are not aware of or controlling. And when the time is right, these knives will be plunged into the backs of our enemies.

Just as Ruin were led by Orders whose inclinations led to them being natural fits, so too are Zannah led by those who prioritize guile, manipulation and corruption over overt militarism. The Orders of Jadus, Palpatine, Plagueis, and Nihilus thus are often the leaders of Zannah, each working and biding their time until the knives fall.

ON RIVAN, THE LIBRARY OF THE SITH

This world is near to my heart, reader. One must forgive this indulgence, for we all have our weaknesses.

The world of Rivan is unique among those of the Sith Collective, not merely for its purpose, but in that I believe it best demonstrates the triumph of the Sith Collective in a way that previous alliances of our people have not.

This world has no strategic or wartime purpose, but is instead a library – though that seems too quaint and limited a term.

It is not simply a repository of knowledge and texts, it is a vault, it is a mausoleum, it is a laboratory, it is the place where those who come seeking knowledge, wisdom, and insight congregate to study and learn. In this respect, it serves a practical purpose, for there is no greater collection of Sith teachings, artifacts, and lore than the Library of the Sith.

Imagine a piece of knowledge, reader; a relic of our history that would have almost certainly been lost. Artifacts whose age stretches to the time of the Great Hyperspace War, and holocrons of Sith Masters lost to time. All of that and more is in this library, and open to any who seek the secrets of the past.

I do not think that there has been a greater collection in our history, nor a library so grand in scale. For people come not just to read and study, but actively experiment and develop new techniques in the Force, as there are few places more suited than when references are so easily available.

You may wonder how this library became so expansive, for do the Orders not jealously hoard their artifacts?

It depends.

There are indeed some of the most sacred, important, and precious relics and knowledge that the Orders hold under their direct control – but these are far fewer than you might think, and many of them are relics tied directly to the Sith in question. A lightsaber hilt, a piece of armor, sometimes a holocron.

However, the incentives within the Sith have changed – Orders do not often embrace such selfish tendencies, as is it not a core part of the Collective that each Order spread the message, teachings, and power of their chosen progenitor? It is this logic that triumphs over small-minded selfishness.

Usually, the Orders willingly donate much of what they possess to the Library both to share the knowledge, history, and lore they have amassed with the wider Sith Collective, and for reasons of security. Those who attend to the Library take their sacred role seriously, woe to any thieves or vandals who attempt to enter this place.

Those who would dare follow in the footsteps of Darth Gravid have paid dearly for their foolishness.

There is an additional incentive that Lady Vathila imposed in her wisdom – that the Orders who donate their knowledge and relics would retain primary ownership over them. In the event they wish to reclaim their relics, they would be able to do so immediately and without penalty. In this way, the Orders retain ownership and control – and the Sith reap the benefits of this knowledge.

I encourage each and every Sith to spend time within this wondrous and sacred institution. Learn, expand your knowledge, meditate among the history of the Sith, and take inspiration from the past to command the future.

The namesake of this Library, Darth Rivan, did this. He is from an era of Sith that was in transition from the ways of the Sith we are familiar with, to the reformations made by Lord Kaan. A man of power, a student of history, Darth Rivan was a man who wished to break the cycles and infighting that had plagued the Sith, leading to their continued defeat.

His solution was flawed, and he ultimately failed to implement it correctly – but nonetheless, he saw the problem, and attempted to correct it in a substantive way – this is worthy of praise and remembrance.

The Orders who lead the Library do so on rotation. One will usually find individuals from the Orders of Marka Ragnos, Darth Traya, and Darth Nihilus presiding as custodians over the Library of the Sith.

This library will only continue to grow with time. Perhaps, dear reader, one day you will contribute to it.

ON MARR, THE BLACK CASTLE OF THE SITH COLLECTIVE

Imagine a fortress, reader.

Nay, this presents the wrong impression.

Imagine a castle. One whose spires rise into the sky, whose gates tower far above yourself, and whose scale and grandeur is enough to make even the mightiest Sith feel small and insignificant.

Do you have the picture in your mind?

Let me add some more details.

Picture thick walls around this castle, bristling with armaments. Imagine rows upon rows of silos, above and below the ground, within which reside arsenals extensive enough to annihilate entire continents. Imagine the largest machines you can conceive of, projecting shields able to blanket entire cities. Imagine hangars large enough to fit entire cruisers. Imagine a mountain, which has been whittled away and shaped to be the heart of this castle.

Is the picture clearer?

Good.

However, this picture is but a haze; an imperfect vision, for nothing can truly prepare one to behold the grandeur, power, and might of the Black Castle. Whatever conceptions you have of this world, they are too small in scope. The Black Castle is not merely a single location, it is the center of a planetary redoubt whose veins stretch across the world of Marr.

Every single weapon one can imagine rests within its arsenal; every conventional and unconventional tool and technology. These walls stretch around ringed emplacements the size of cities, bristling with ground-to-space batteries, each connected through underground grav-rails to the Black Castle itself.

Marr was built to be able to not only fight entire armies, but pulverize them into scrap and dust. The fleets of the enemy will come to Marr to die, and when they fall to the planet, their remains will be taken inside the foundries of the Black Castle to be melted down and recycled to serve the world in its defense. Marr is not like Ruin – we can afford to lose those worlds.

This one, we cannot.

Why has the Collective devoted so much time, resources, and weapons into this single location? Because it is our last line of defense, should the worst come to pass. Marr is positioned at a singular, critical chokepoint, beyond which is what serves as our capital world – to be discussed later. All you need know is that if Marr is ever roused to its full power, the Sith Collective is in mortal danger.

Yet even if we are in danger, we ensure that the price will be borne with the blood of millions. We will demand that the Jedi throw themselves at our walls, and suffer for every miniscule millimeter they claim. For this world is death, and it is here that we make our stand.

It is fitting it is named for Darth Marr, one of the greatest Sith of the Old Republic Era, one often unacknowledged in history, and overshadowed by his peers. Nox. Jadus. Vauner. Revan. In comparison, Marr was simply a warrior; a veteran whose trophies included hundreds of Jedi, whose focus was not on power, but exemplifying the strength of the Sith.

He was the last Sith on Korriban who stood and died as Emperor Valkorian personally claimed it for the Eternal Empire. Marr died on the homeworld of the Sith, in a way that deserves to be properly honored. In Marr’s name, the Sith will invoke his last stand, and if we are to fall, we will ensure the price is so high historians will speak of the oceans of shed blood, and the deafening lamentations of the widowed.

The Black Castle is filled with Sith from the more militant Orders, and is also supported with soldiers and personnel from the Order of Snoke, whose investment in the Black Castle exceeds some of their own worlds. The scale is often such that only the Order of Snoke is capable of managing the Black Castle, and one of their number usually commands it.

Usually, but not always.

The Sith of the Order of Revan and the Order of Vitiate have at times commanded the Black Castle – though Snoke is often a significant asset to their management, and indeed, have actively ceded leadership at times for the purpose of allowing other Orders to gain the experience in commanding at such scale.

It is for this reason that the terms of Marr’s leadership are shorter than typical – as Marr is a world only intended to be fought upon as a last resort. The tenure of leadership lasts only a few years, allowing plenty of time for leaders to come, gain experience, and be rotated back into their Orders.

Should Marr find itself in conflict, I suspect these tenures will be extended in length, but truthfully, if the enemy has come to Marr, then we will have more pressing matters to attend to.

ON PALL, HIGH TEMPLE OF THE SITH LORDS

When you think of worlds that are distinctly Sith, which come to mind? The orange sands, harsh winds, and forlorn temples of Korriban? The barren, frozen expanse of Ziost? The screaming, ruin of the Malachor asteroid field? The endless, hungry forests, and swirling rainstorms of Dromund Kaas?

Worlds steeped in history, but more than that, worlds which possess an innate character, innate power that draws us to them, and challenges us to bring them to heel. Worlds that are alive in a way only Sith can understand and appreciate.

Pall is one of those worlds, though one that you are almost certainly ignorant of. The reason for that is simple – it is a world kept secret, cultivated and warped over the course of centuries into what it is today.

It is the work of none other than Lady Vathila herself, who spend countless decades upon it as she plotted and bided her time, seeking to create not merely a Sith world, but the greatest of all of them, a place where one day, Sith of all paths and kinds would walk its lands, and marvel at its grandeur, and tremble at its power.

Once this was a planet with a simple Force nexus, one that was untapped and undeveloped – as most are. A Force nexus, it is known, reacts to the world around it, and many lie dormant before they are awakened by a Force-user – and depending on what happens next, it will change.

The Jedi are apt to treat these phenomena as simple forces of nature, to be discovered and left alone. Some give them a spiritual significance, and will visit them to commune with spirits, or receive visions. Radicals may even tap into this power for minor conveniences, or they will build their temples atop them, allowing the nexus to naturally grow and expand as it reacts to more Jedi arriving to it.

The Jedi tame their nexuses at best, and ignore them at worst.

The Sith do not follow these restrained, cowardly acts. Under Lady Vathila, the Pall Nexus was not merely cultivated, but fed. It was fed in a myriad of ways. Fed through the sacrifice of lesser minds and souls. Fed through the thoughts and dreams of those who were made to settle the world. Fed through Lady Vathila’s own blood and power.

Through cultivation, sorcery, and other incantations of the dark side of the Force, Pall has become a far more dangerous world than otherwise conceived. A world that is as much a hunter as the Sith who reside on it; whose flora and fauna are as lethally ravenous as the Nexus itself.

As the Nexus fed, it became stronger and developed an insatiable appetite, one that became a self-sustaining presence upon Pall. The first thing you will feel, if you are so lucky as to step upon this world, is an alien thing unlike any that exists in the galaxy, which is on the edge of your perception, lurking; prowling, waiting for your moment of weakness so it can consume all that you are.

Did you think that this world, intended to be the greatest of the Sith worlds, would be safe?

Did you think that you would be afforded such patronizing apathy?

You should know better.

It is for this reason that those who are not Sith are forbidden from stepping foot on this planet. The Nexus does not discriminate, nor is it restrained in its gluttony.

Sometimes it consumes the minds of its victims outright, other times it infests their psyche, forcing them to heed unknowable commands that lure them into the depths of Pall, to the all-consuming center of the Nexus itself.

One cannot let their guard down for even a moment. Sith have succumbed, and paid for their recklessness with their minds and lives. Take careful heed should you come to this hallowed world – for it suffers not the weak.

But what is upon this world? What purpose does it serve?

The Sith Collective is not a formal state. It does not have ‘homeworlds’ or ‘capitals’ akin to the Alliance and Empire – yet if there is a seat of power and authority within the Collective, it is on Pall. It is here where the High Council resides in a grand temple, a glorious mansion to the triumphs and exploits of our people.

The High Temple of the Sith Lords was built not by the hands of slaves or the Force-blind, but by the Sith themselves. It was the Sith – including Lady Vathila herself – who built the temples, who birthed the gardens, who erected the statues, who carved the monuments. It is a world built and shaped by and for the Sith.

One that recalls our greatest triumphs, and heralds our coming exploits.

It is named for Ajunta Pall, he who first took the title Dark Lord of the Sith. The first to renounce the Jedi, the first to challenge their dogma, and the first declare his intention to follow a different path. The first to embrace the power of the dark side, and lay the foundations for a legacy that the galaxy fears to this day.

The first of the Sith Lords.

All of the worlds discussed up to now have had terms of leadership. Pall is the singular exception, because without pause or question, only one Order has held stewardship over Pall, and that is the Order of Lady Vathila. It is only proper, and all Sith acknowledge as much, that the seat of power and authority of the Collective should fall under the one whose vision and power brought it into being.

And so, Lady Vathila and her Order maintain stewardship over this sacred world, and ensure that the endless hunger of the Nexus is sated.

A part of me is almost disappointed that this world will remain unknown and hidden from the galaxy, protected as it is by worlds like Marr and Ruin. Should any Jedi dare step foot on it, I dare imagine they will quickly find more than they bargained for.

Chapter Text

SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

Interlude II - An Imperfect Mold

Alexander appraised the Sadow arena. There was something appealing about the architecture. It was built in the center of the Academy, a focal point which connected nearly all of the building’s wings. It was not quite a social space, but it wasn’t uncommon for the Sadow initiates to gather, either to watch or meet with it in the background.

The arena itself was within a depression, paved with large flat stones, and with ramps at each corner for occupants to enter. Alexander believed he liked it because it was one of the few places here that was open. Unlike the low-ceilinged and relatively narrow corridors, the domed roof was high above them, and the arena was at least as large as most respectable sports stadiums.

It had a grandeur that appealed to him. Something that made each duel, be it watching or participating, something to remember.

He stood in the arena, the light of his sapphire blade reflecting off the stones as an emerald one ignited in response.

He sized up his opponent. A red-skinned twi’lek woman, small and lithe. Both hands gripped her saber in a classic Shii-Cho opening. It implied one of two things: the woman facing him was going to be very unpredictable – and dangerous – or she was quite inexperienced.

Form I was considered a starter stance, which few duelists employed once they learned the basics, though it was often sufficient for Jedi who didn’t specialize in combat. Alexander flourished his saber in an opening salute, an unofficial tradition of the practitioners of Makashi.

Both duelists slowly circled one other, waiting to see who made the first move.

Alexander was more comfortable with his lightsaber now than he had been in a very long time. Lightsaber combat had always been something he was decent at, but never particularly enjoyed. The ability to wield a lightsaber was useful, but didn’t play to his strengths. Learning enough of Form II to be relatively skilled was more of a necessary evil than something he had wanted to master.

And if there was any form he wanted to learn, it would be the one explicitly designed for dueling. He’d known enough to be able to fight most opponents to a standstill, and he’d quickly regained that level of proficiency.

This time, he did feel like he was on the path to mastery – if for no other reason than if he didn’t, the punishment would be severe. The dueling arena was not a place for the weak or uncertain. There were only a few rules in place.

All duels were strictly conducted using lightsabers. Using the Force in an offensive or defensive manner was not approved – there were other competitions for that.

The second rule was that they could not intentionally kill each other.

Everything else was permitted.

Despite the embargo on the killing blow, there were no training sabers here. As a result, it was rare for a duel to end without a significant injury or dismemberment for one or both of the parties.

It provided a strong incentive to do your best, because the consequences were steep. It was a harsh penalty, but not a fatal one considering the ease with which limbs could be reattached with modern technology. What hurt worse than the missing limb was the sting of defeat and the time in recovery.

He had yet to suffer such a loss or injury. There’d been a few close calls, though. He’d paced himself in the months since reacclimating to his connection to the Force, not taking any challenges he couldn’t reasonably face. Eventually a few provocateurs had figured out goading him wouldn’t work, and moved on to others who were less disciplined. There were some initiates who, either out of arrogance or a desire to prove themselves, went into the arena well before they should, and were subsequently humbled.

Conversely, the better one performed in the arena, the more attention they would gain from other initiates, those higher on the food chain. There was a period of time where a rising, talented initiate was ideally humbled – where they had not yet reached their full potential, but defeating them would nonetheless bestow significant prestige.

Alexander was acutely aware he was now firmly within this category, and the risk of being directly challenged was becoming acute. They hadn’t yet – but it was inevitable.

It was why he’d waited until he could hold his own and relearned how to properly fight before he’d even accepted his first duel. It was a prudent choice that had spared him the indignities he’d seen inflicted on the arrogant. It had been a welcome journey, and he’d forgotten how wonderful it felt to have the Force so close to him – its connection strengthening with each passing day.

He’d soon surpass who he’d been as a Jedi. This was who he was meant to be.

His opponent made the first move, striking forward – which he easily deflected. She transitioned into a flurry of strikes that were more flashy than dangerous, intended to disorient before a true strike. After batting the strikes away, he responded with a thrust toward her body, which she barely dodged.

Definitely a novice then, and one who probably shouldn’t even be in the arena yet. Unfortunately, he understood why. Victories in the arena were a significant source of prestige, and if you wanted to be noticed… it was the most prudent way. Word traveled quickly for victory and defeat alike, and it required some discretion to balance out the inherent risk.

It also presumed you actually knew how to fight. There were no rankings or fair matches here. It was a self-perpetuating ecosystem that you had to break into, and involved a certain amount of strategy.

Within a few minutes he knew she wasn’t going to be able to defeat him.

More blows were exchanged between them, both of them seeking openings and opportunities. His opponent favored aggression when she sensed an opening, but was growing more cautious as the fight progressed, showing she was cognizant of her shortcomings. The more tired she became, the more conservative her movements and attacks were.

His own shortcomings were also emerging, as while she didn’t pose a threat to him, she wasn’t going to be a pushover. A few experimental strikes of his own confirmed there wouldn’t be a simple opening he could exploit. Victory was going to require some complexity.

Time to try something new.

Blue and green blades continued to clash as the small crowd of initiates watched in anticipation, seeming to expect the fight to be over soon. Alexander knew they were studying both of their moves, their unconscious habits, and their mistakes. He’d done the same thing, and here there were always duels and watchers.

There fortunately weren’t as many as there would be later in the day. Those who were less experienced tended to use the morning and evenings to fight; less chance of defeat or humiliation. Alexander preferred to avoid that as well, giving or receiving it.

He began a series of strikes against his opponent, executing a superficially similar sequence to what she had tried to use earlier, only his strikes were all intended to end the fight if they connected. The blue blade whirled around him, almost faster than the eye could track, until she finally made a mistake. He had a split-second to exploit it, which would be enough to sever her blade arm.

He instead angled the blade so it scraped across her forearm, singing the skin and leaving a large burn welt. She yelped from the pain; her concentration fully broken as he followed up with an augmented swipe strong enough to dislodge the lightsaber from her hand.

The deactivated hilt went flying well out of reach, and before she could even think about recovering it the sapphire blade rested centimeters from her neck. His opponent breathed heavily, realizing the fight was over.

“Dead,” Alexander stated, before deactivating his lightsaber. He called her lightsaber to his hand, and offered it back to her. “Form I is relatively basic, but it can be enough to protect you if you master it, even from Form II. You have good foundations.”

She took the lightsaber, eyeing him warily, as if not expecting him to speak at all. “So you demonstrated to me. I clearly still have much to learn.”

He offered a smile. “Am I wrong in assuming you didn’t see a lot of combat?”

“No,” she sighed, shaking her head, “I was a Diplomat. Good at talking, good at listening, not good at fighting.” She hooked the lightsaber back on her waist. “Not many opportunities to use it in the Senate.”

Alexander snorted. “I’d disagree.”

She cracked a smile for the first time in return. “…I don’t think the Masters would have approved.”

“No, they wouldn’t have.” Alexander hooked his own lightsaber back on his belt. “What is your name?”

“Rella,” she answered, “Formerly of the Sphere of Diplomacy and Mediation. What about you? I’ve seen you around before.”

“Alexander,” he said, following the unspoken convention to not share surnames, “Formerly… well, it would have been Recruitment and Training. I departed while I was still a Padawan.”

She cocked her head. “I wouldn’t have expected that.”

“Which part?”

“All of it,” she said, “You don’t strike me as a teacher, and are much more skilled than I’d expect from a Padawan.”

“It was a long time ago,” he demurred after a moment, “I didn’t let all my skills atrophy, and there was a time where I enjoyed the thought of teaching others. Alas, sometimes it just… doesn’t work out.”

She nodded slowly. “I suppose not.”

There were quite a few unspoken things between them. Both could theorize why the other had left, and ended up here, and both quietly agreed they didn’t need to know.

“A word of advice,” Alexander said, eyeing the edges of the arena where the next duelists were preparing, “Get a little more instruction before you come back here. I could have taken your hand, and I don’t think many others will refrain from doing that.”

She lightly touched her scorched forearm. “Why didn’t you?”

He hesitated a moment before answering, “Because I didn’t have to. I don’t like to cause pain for its own sake. You knew very quickly you were going to lose when we started fighting. You didn’t need to be humiliated to learn that.”

She placed a small bacta patch on the burn. “That sounds like something I’d have heard back at the Order, not here. I appreciate it, Alexander.”

“A Sith has the power to dictate what is right,” Alexander said with a shrug, “Or so they repeatedly tell us. This was my choice. Learn from it.”

“I definitely won’t waste it.” She looked like she was going to say something more, but paused as she glanced to the arena edges. “I think they want us out.”

Alexander saw that the next duelists were clearly impatient for them to get out, and start the next rounds. “I would speak to some of the combat instructors if you haven’t,” Alexander said as they walked out of the arena, “I’m not familiar with Form I, otherwise I would share what I know.”

“I suppose,” she admitted, “Though… I don’t know if they would want to bother with me. I’ve gone a few times, and they always seem to judge me.”

“Yes, that’s part of the test,” Alexander said, “It’s a fear to overcome. If you’re intimidated by some of them, go to Vorka. He’s a nikto, you can’t miss him. He’s also a Revanite, and I can vouch for him. He’ll help you improve.”

She nodded. “Alright. I’ll do that then.”

“Good luck, Rella.” Alexander nodded to her. “I’ll expect a challenge when we have our rematch.”

“You’ll get that,” she said with a resolute nod, “I promise.”

Both of them departed in opposite directions, and Alexander did hope she’d take his advice. He didn’t know why someone like that was here, but she deserved to have a chance to grow stronger.

And if no one was going to properly help her here, at least he could. Meekness and hesitation were not something the Sith would reward – initiative was. If she showed initiative, she would get what she needed.

It was what he had noticed from the Sith Masters as well – while he had aroused their curiosity through his studies and strategic duels in the arena, it was his active seeking of information which had gained their attention.

He did not necessarily view this attention as a positive, per se – if only because he was quite confident that many of the Orders wanted him to join them, and were appraising every action and conversation he took. It placed him in an awkward position; one that touched on internal Sith politics that he had yet to become familiar with.

For now, he hadn’t let it affect who he spoke to or whom he learned from – ironically, the safest thing for him to do was continue showing no favoritism. Though as he continued to rise – as he fully intended – that could prove more… difficult.

With a mental shrug, Alexander made his way to the Sadow library to clear his head.

His days often ended quietly. Each of the initiates had been given their own quarters within the Academy, which were admittedly small, but comfortable enough for him. Alexander didn’t need luxury – a bed, table, and electronics were sufficient.

While most of his days were involved in practical instruction, physical training, and speaking with the numerous Sith Masters concerning the Force and philosophy, his nights were to pursue his own personal and academic interests.

It was especially important since it ultimately concerned his own path within the Sith Collective.

There were some initiates in the Academy who seemed to know from the onset which Order they would join. Some seemed like natural fits, and others… were made more impulsively in his view. Individuals who were easily seduced and swayed by the first recruiter who came to them.

Sadow had representatives from each of the Orders, though there was a disparity in how many each sent, and who had specific standards and who wasn’t so picky when it came to the initiates.

Orders like Kaan, Revan, Krayt, and Snoke seemed to pursue every possible recruit regardless of quality. Orders like Jadus, Palpatine, and Traya were more discerning in who they were interested in. And then there were some that were practically impossible to join like Nox, but still had some representation for the purposes of education.

Alexander enjoyed talking with the Nox representative. The court politics she liked to rant about reminded him of something he’d hear in the Senate or Imperial Court. It seemed aristocracies had an amusing number of similarities no matter the separation of time or distance.

He was well aware that he’d attracted the interest of quite a few of the Orders, especially once he’d distinguished himself in the Academy. He’d engaged quite extensively with each of the recruiters, most of whom were happy to answer, and some who were not quite as thrilled with the questions he was asking.

It was a necessary exercise. This was potentially the most important choice of his life, and he wanted to make sure it was the right one.

His room was bestrewn with numerous tomes and texts – most stacked on the table, with some by his bedside. He tended to read them during the evening before he went to sleep. Sith preferred physical mediums for a reason he hadn’t figured out, which was a pleasant change of pace, even if it was far less efficient than having everything on a single device. Some of the Orders had digitized their writings, but some refused to do so – Nox most especially – which sometimes complicated actually finding what he needed.

Because of this nightly ritual, he practically dreamed of Sith histories and philosophies. He’d missed this kind of single-minded fixation on learning that had driven him to once want to teach, but had atrophied in his years away from the Order. It was nice to get back into this routine.

In only a few months he’d already learned more about the Sith than he’d ever thought possible – especially coming from the Jedi. The Jedi had covered the basic histories well enough, but ignored the details of the Sith Lords and their philosophies. Or put them under lock and key within the Sphere of History and Knowledge – understandably so.

The Sith couldn’t always be put into a binary, and in most instances, he could at least grasp how and why they acted and thought.

A young, curious Jedi wasn’t going to be able to appropriately answer some of the questions the Sith proposed, or articulate a viable counterargument to what they did. Sith infamously liked to play the hero, or state ‘known’ truths with a confidence that was alluring to more ignorant minds.

The solution the Jedi had of simply ignoring it wasn’t a good response though. It was a fundamental flaw in Jedi teaching, which risked backfiring if a Jedi asked questions, because they’d assume that there was something being hidden.

Consequently making Sith teachings more alluring.

Maybe one day they’d learn better, but he doubted it.

Yet in his months of reading and research, he found himself dissatisfied because he still had no direction he was comfortable pursuing. He had gained a certain respect for some of these Sith and their philosophies – but not any singular one. He liked some aspects of one philosophy, and different pieces of another. There was a mishmash of ideas and values he supported, but none of them were connected to each other. There was no ideal framework.

He was wondering more and more if there was any Order he could fit into. He had to admit that a few were appealing to him. Kaan was a dark reflection of the Jedi Order, which he felt he could become accustomed to in time, and it seemed where many former Jedi gravitated to. There were more Kaanite Sith than any other here, who were able to sympathize with why Jedi left the Order.

However, they had a clear interest in changing the initiates into being more traditional Sith. And Kaan was a traditional Sith branch, just organized in a way that was familiar to the modern Jedi Order.

The Order of Revan – particularly one branch of it – also garnered his interest, as it was practically the only Order of the Collective that didn’t fully eschew the light. That was unfortunately one of the only appealing parts, as he found the rest of it organized too arbitrarily, and based too much in Revan as an entity for him to see it as much more than a glorified cult – an assessment he could level at several Orders, honestly.

He’d considered a more neutral Order like Ragnos, which had a straightforward mission that he agreed with – undercut by the fact that the Sith neutrality would be ended when victory was declared, nor did it match his own ambition. He wasn’t going to be a Sith that merely fulfilled a role.

No. He was going to do something. Make a difference in a way he couldn’t in the Order.

Joining the Order of Palpatine was a curious idea, but he absolutely did not trust anyone in that Order, nor did he particularly think his skills laid in that kind of politics and manipulation. He wasn’t a dishonest person, and if he embraced what Palpatine would want, he would just become someone he hated.

The Order of Traya was the only other one he could see himself in, but it was easily the most obscured and esoteric, whose representative was… less than forthcoming about certain questions he had. Not unfriendly, but there were clearly some things that only members were going to get clear answers to.

The rest of the Orders were either too opposed to what he fundamentally believed or otherwise repulsive on a personal level. It left him in something of a bind, as the more he tried to learn and make an educated choice, the stronger this feeling became.

He still occasionally referenced Veritas’s brochure, because while the author was biased, it was a useful contrast when put alongside what he learned in the actual histories and from speaking to the representatives.

Veritas was quite skilled at being simultaneously truthful, and guiding the reader along to a conclusion he wanted them to reach. Still, it was more accurate than Veritas’s – or Vathila’s – personal viewpoints.

So long as you were aware that this bias existed, of course.

As more time passed, it seemed more and more apparent that there simply was not a place in the Sith where he could easily fit, and for now, he didn’t have a solution to it. The Orders weren’t going to change for him, which meant that he would have to change.

Which, he realized, was probably the goal. In their eyes, no one should enter the Sith the same as when they had first arrived. There was going to have to be change and compromise somehow, which many initiates were fully ready to do.

He was… less eager.

Not because he didn’t think it wasn’t reasonable, but because he didn’t think that it was necessary. There was nothing that demanded a Sith be forced to conform. To be a Sith was the pursuit, acquisition, and usage of power. Such a broad and nebulous description did not mean he needed to become a worse version of himself.

It was this fact that was why he remained resistant to the idea, and why he kept hoping that something would click for him the more he learned.

He was no longer sure that would happen.

He glanced at the time, stared at the book in his hands, and closed it. Setting it near his bed, he shut off the lights and stared up at the dark ceiling for a long time, his thoughts scattered and distracted.

His eyes closed, and he gave a large exhale. Tomorrow would be a new day, and he trusted that he would figure out what path he would walk sooner or later.

He had time. It was going to be a while before he left this place.

A cafeteria was a completely normal place to have at any place of learning, and for some reason, it seemed hilariously out-of-place in a Sith academy. Alexander remembered he’d been struck by a sense of surreality the first time he’d walked into it, his first thought being ‘Who are they paying to run this?’

A silly question, since cooking droids were ubiquitous. Expensive, but the Sith apparently were fine with acquiring some top-end ones. The cafeteria itself didn’t look too much different from normal ones, or even sound. It was almost easy to forget that it was… here.

The food was decent enough.

The man sitting opposite Alexander could best be described as plain. Nothing stood out about him. Short black hair, human, pale, featureless skin, and a face that looked like it could have come out of a random face generator on the HoloNet. It was almost impressive how bland this man looked.

And that was almost certainly exactly how he wanted it.

“Heard you beat up a young lady,” Kister Vinn said as he began eating, “Would have thought you more chivalrous than that.”

Kister was another former Jedi, though one who’d spent more years than him in the Order as a Shadow before leaving because, as he put it, ‘Nothing I did mattered.’ It was a fairly common refrain from the Jedi here. A common theme he’d realized was that very few of the Jedi had originally wanted to join the Sith, but found that their options were limited.

They could wander the galaxy as Outer Rim vigilantes or set up clinics or do protection work – but everyone knew that wasn’t going to make the difference all of them wanted. They were the ambitious ones. The ones with big ideas, and institutions insufficient for their vision.

Alexander wasn’t blind to the fact that any Jedi here was tempted because of their pride. Because they wanted to be the ones to change the galaxy, and couldn’t be satisfied with anything else. The more ignorant would say it was because they just wanted to burn it down, for one reason or another.

Sometimes that was true, but it wasn’t the complete story, because once everything was burned down, something would emerge on top.

The most ironic part of all of this was that it didn’t have to be this way.

He’d spoken to enough of these former Jedi to know that if just a modicum of effort had been expended… they would have stayed. If things were just a little better, if the Jedi were just a bit more honest, if someone just tried doing something…

Maybe if they’d acted like Jedi. If they’d used their power and influence to truly make things better, without concern for norms, laws, and politics, then maybe…

Alexander let the mental thread fade out. No point reminiscing about the could-have-beens right now. He’d agonized about that enough, and it always ended the same way.

The exact reasons they were all here weren’t the same, but there was a shared commonality that made it easy to form a camaraderie. Some were more eager to completely abandon their previous lives than others, but for most, they remained Jedi at heart.

Something that the Sith doubtless wanted expunged.

“I will remind you,” Alexander said, focusing on the conversation at hand, “she accepted my open offer to spar. You may be in the habit of throwing a duel for a pretty woman, but I’m not.”

“Funny,” Kister drawled, “one day I’m going to find and murder whoever started that rumor. She beat me, fair and square.”

“Whatever you say.” Alexander smirked, as Kister muttered a curse under his breath.

“In all seriousness, I’m glad you didn’t take her arm,” he continued after a moment, “Don’t think she deserved it. Frankly, shouldn’t be fighting at all, but I guess that’s an expectation here. Can’t blame her for wanting to prove herself. The expectations aren’t clear unless you actually talk to the Sith, and it sounds like she’s shy.”

“Intimidated more than shy,” Alexander said, “It’s not easy to transition from the stories we hear to” –he motioned around– “all of this. I think she’s new.”

“Yeah, I heard some came in not long ago.” Kister nodded. “Did any of the instructors ask you about it?”

“What, not cutting off her arm? No.” Alexander shook his head. “I doubt they will either. I won. It doesn’t matter how it happened.”

“In theory, but we both know there are expectations,” Kister said, “Singe the arm, teach a lesson, but don’t punish. Makes sense to us as a punishment. Sith need their punishments to be as memorable as possible; even the nicer ones think that it is a more ‘effective’ instruction. Even the Revanites would have disarmed her without a second thought.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Having second thoughts about all of this?”

“What are they going to do, expel me?” Kister sighed. “Of course not. Doesn’t mean they’re above critique. Just reminds me of some frustrations. A lot of people are looking forward to graduation. I’m not. I have no idea where I should go. I’m half-tempted to start my own Order.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you?”

“You serious? There are some problems – number one, it needs to actually be oriented around someone,” Kister said incredulously, “Vathila can get away with it, but I doubt anyone is going to join the ‘Order of Kister Vinn.’ ”

Alexander cracked a smile. “I’d consider it.”

“Cute. Second problem, can you see me leading anything?” he asked sarcastically, “I know what I’m good at, and I have the charisma of a well-bred nerf. Nice if you know me, but invisible in a crowd, and you’re not going to follow me anywhere.”

That was a pretty good analogy, actually. A funny one, but also kind of true. Kister was self-aware about how he looked, though Alexander would dispute him being completely devoid of charisma – just not the kind needed for a position like that.

“Fair enough.” Alexander took another bite, thinking on if he should add to it. “I’m having the same problem. Doesn’t matter how much philosophy I read of each Sith and their contemporaries, there’s nothing that really calls to me. Nothing that I see, and immediately know that this is what I’m supposed to do.”

“Yeah,” Kister said wistfully, “the Jedi can rot in their malaise, but I don’t particularly want to turn into a monster in pursuit of making things better.”

“I think that’s part of the training,” Alexander said, “Not monsters per se, but shedding what they see as weakness.”

Kister snorted. “No offense to my fellow Jedi who were oh-so-eager to recite the Sith Code. I don’t blame them. The Jedi earned each and every defector, but the easiest thing you can do here is fit their mold. So no, I don’t believe that what we believe is a weakness. If for no other reason than the Sith are hiding on backwaters while the Jedi stroll Coruscant with impunity.”

Alexander smiled. “True. I would go further. We don’t need to change at all to be Sith. It’s a contest of strength of a different kind.”

“Of which I am glad to be your compatriot, and unfortunately, none of it helps us,” Kister said, “It’s funny that the Sith have an entire spectrum of villainy, and so little of it appeals to me. None of it offers what I want.”

“A future,” Alexander said.

Kister grimaced. “Partially. A third of the Orders are glorified cults. Another third don’t have any plan once ‘we’ win, and the last third that do have plans and a vision… are antithetical to what I want.”

They both continued eating in silence for a few minutes, Alexander’s mind once again on the question of the future. Something that Kister had said made him think. “Maybe you’re onto something.”

“Oh?” Kister looked up, frowning. “I don’t like the sound of that. What am I on to?”

“Founding an Order,” Alexander said.

His eyes widened in horror. “Absolutely not!”

“No, no, not with you.” Alexander quickly shook his head. “No one’s dumb enough to have you be the face of anything.”

“Thank the Force,” Kister said, relieved, before frowning, “That wasn’t nice.”

“The point is the idea,” Alexander said, ignoring the comment, “It’s not unprecedented among the Collective. It’s how literally every Order was founded. The people didn’t have a place, so they made their own. Why not do it again?”

“Because we’re all” –he coughed dramatically– “former Jedi.”

“As long as it’s formed under the overarching tenets of the Sith, they shouldn’t have a problem,” Alexander said, “We don’t start the Jedi Order again – we found a Sith Order, but one that is a reflection of what we want.”

“Alright, so let’s say we take this to the next step,” Kister said, “In this hypothetical thought experiment. We need an actual figure in the Sith who could be our…” –he waved a hand– “anchor, I guess. A bit of a problem, considering the Sith are, historically, quite imperial and conventionally tyrannical.”

He wasn’t wrong. Alexander knew that there were practically no Sith that even came close to reflecting them. There were some, but they were all fairly minor Sith, who hadn’t done more than exist, or had almost nothing known about them.

That was when the answer hit him like a thunderbolt. An answer so glaringly obvious he was annoyed that he hadn’t thought of it immediately. His eyes brightened at the realization.

Kister noticed, watching him closely. “What are you thinking?”

“I need to look into something.” Alexander stood abruptly. “If I’m wrong, not a big deal. If I’m right… I’ll tell you later. In the meantime… let’s not get too excited. Gauge some reactions among the initiates. Don’t be too obvious.”

“Can do,” Kister promised, “How long do you think…?”

“To confirm? Not long at all,” Alexander said, “I’ll see you later.”

He walked to the library as fast as he could at a pace, his mind trying to think of every related piece of information he could recall. Because there was a Sith that might be their missing link here, a relative latecomer, but whom none would dispute as being a true Sith, or claim they had only a minimal impact on the galaxy.

A man named Jacen Solo – or as the galaxy remembered him:

Darth Caedus.

Chapter Text

SotP Addenda – Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

THE ORDER OF EMPEROR VITIATE

ON GODHOOD

I want you to consider a question that you may have never given thought to, reader.

What does it mean to be a god?

I suspect that it is not a question you’ve pondered previously. The definition of godhood, and the wider question of divinity itself, has a multitude of answers – though curiously few as they relate to the orders of Jedi and Sith.

One can argue that the Jedi possess a more spiritual outlook on the nature of the Force – but ask any Jedi or Sith directly, and you are unlikely to hear them describe themselves as religious. Yet the question of religion, divinity, and godhood has dominated worlds, cultures, and species since time immemorial.

Wars have been fought over this question, either over doctrine, or out of a perceived religious obligation. None more infamous than the conflict with the yuuzhan vong – their religion shaping and driving their entire heretical society.

Civilizations have risen and fallen on their beliefs, which might have inspired them to prosperity, or doomed them to futile displays of piety to their silent deities. We as Sith are not inclined to view the Force with any such veneration; the Force exists, and it is ours to wield.

Some might call that a divine right. Others would not. But the Sith have never been one to serve a nebulous concept of divinity – outside of inducing their lessers to obeisance. The Force is merely another aspect of this galaxy, though some – such as the Jedi – certainly place more reverence on it than others.

But is it something with a guiding will, or possessing an unknowable consciousness that influences those who call upon its power? You will find few but the absolute fringe among the Sith who would even consider such an idea valid.

Let us return to the question of divinity.

I assure you, the relevance will become clear.

What does it mean to be a god?

Is it possible for someone to become one?

The answers may be more complicated than you assume. Consider what is often ascribed to purported gods, and you will notice a spectrum of aspects that can range from something fairly mundane to complete omnipotence.

Is it mere power that ascends one to such a status? Is the ability to destroy worlds and raze armies sufficient to qualify one to godhood? Is it the ability to control others through thought, word, or the Force in mind and body?

Or is it something more fundamental to the underlying mechanics of the galaxy? Something real, yet intangible that allows these mechanics to be utilized, altered, or even reshaped on the whim of the wielder?

Is the latter even something possible, or found only within the depths of academia? Ideas by half-mad mathematicians, ostracized quantum scientists, or wandering engineers who tinker with gree machines?

One can only speculate. Often, madness is madness, but sometimes there is a grain of something real in the rambling.

I digress.

There are many people in the galaxy who view us – those who command the Force – as gods, for the power we wield is a demonstration of our perceived divinity; a cosmic power of the universe in our grasp to utilize as we see fit. The same is also true of Jedi.

But that is not what we are interested in. We do not care about how the Force-blind define godhood, for they cannot conceive of such power, and never will. Force-users rarely care for such concepts of godhood, because in the end, what does it matter so long as they can achieve their ambitions?

You may be tempted to think the same.

Patience.

This is relevant because this question is a serious one – it should be considered.

Because there was one Sith who sought divinity, and in doing so, forced us to confront the reality of such efforts.

You have likely heard of him. History remembers him as Vitiate. Or simply, the Sith Emperor.

He needed no other titles. He never claimed any.

Why?

Because they did not matter. There was never a single question as to his power and authority. His legacy remains so potent that as far as history is concerned, there is only one Sith Emperor. One true emperor.

Vitiate is remembered as a Sith, but in truth, he diverged from contemporary and current Sith in numerous ways. He eschewed many traditions and titles. He was distant and aloof. That he ruled an Empire at all is downright puzzling given his nature, though it seems he founded it out of convenience rather than a desire to rule.

All that was certain was his power.

And Vitiate was powerful, dear reader. Powerful beyond measure. Powerful to a scale that there has never been a Sith who has matched him. Not Revan. Not Nihilus. Not Snoke. Not even Palpatine.

He was not merely powerful. He redefined the word.

A man without equal, if one dare labels him a mere man.

Many of the Orders have their legacies in Sith whose power was extensive.

It is no exaggeration to say that Vitiate eclipses each of them.

I understand this is a bold claim, and yet it is one that I am convinced is true. Vitiate was the most powerful Sith who has ever existed, and since his death, all Sith have been attempting to reclaim a fraction of the power he wielded.

Vitiate believed that there was an answer to the question of divinity. He sought to become a god.

Did he succeed?

Some believe he did. Others do not – at least in how Vitiate defined godhood.

You will have to come to your own conclusion, reader.

The Order of Emperor Vitiate has their own answer to this question – though they have not shared it, even if one can glean their likely stance.

This Order is different from others in our Collective. They emulate Vitiate in ways similar to how he acted during his rule. They are enigmatic. They are among the most isolated of the Orders. Their members often keep to themselves. Their rituals are alien. Their members unsettling. They exhibit traits and interests that are often unconventional among the Sith.

This Order is centered around a single goal. The same goal that Vitiate pursued, and perhaps even achieved.

Their own ascension to godhood.

ON FOUNDING MYTHOLOGIES

I would traditionally begin with a historical recounting of the Sith in question, and their impact on both the galaxy and later Sith. This instance demands a different approach, as the true origin of Vitiate is unknown.

There are, of course, numerous stories, rumors, and legends about his origin – and it is very likely that one or many of them hide a kernel of truth. Yet it is impossible to fully verify, so you will need to exercise your own judgment, reader.

I can only relay the stories with a modicum of plausibility to them.

Allow me to set the scene.

What do you know of a world called ‘Nathema’?

No, not the ritual. Not its ultimate fate. The details of the world itself. Why the Sith were there at all. Who it belonged to before the Sith arrived. What do you know of its history? The relics and artifacts upon it?

These questions are important, reader. More than you realize.

Nathema was a mostly unremarkable world from a geographical standpoint. It was a temperate world, with tall mountains, sprawling plains, and vast oceans. I assume there was some unique flora and fauna, but such was immaterial to its true value.

No, it was not the world itself that drew the finest Sith researchers of the day. It was the fact that Nathema was resplendent with alien relics and structures in unprecedented number and quality from eons past.

An archeologist’s dream. Something that would make historians weep with joy.

How old, you may wonder?

Before the rakata’s Infinite Empire, at minimum.

I must stress, reader, that almost nothing is known of the time before the Infinite Empire – a period itself bereft of clarity.

What we know for certain about the preceding era was that it was dominated by multiple empires. There is debate over who these empires were, or if there were any other minor powers, but there is near-universal agreement that there were five dominant powers. Some records claim that these empires were allied to each other under a banner only known as the ‘Five Eternal.’

It is unclear if this is a crude translation, or even a correct one. Yet it is one most academics who study this era use in lieu of anything else. There is much debate on this period, but it is believed that the gree were among this group, and that the rise of the Infinite Empire contributed to their fall.

The rest is far more speculative.

There is a theory that the descendants of much older species survive to this day, reduced or degenerated from their once lofty heights. There is evidence that the killiks were connected to the Five Eternal, but most believe they were likely a slave species. Others have proposed that the Five Eternal included the columi, and the distant ancestor to humanity and the selkath.

While such speculation is not completely baseless, it is scant at best.

However, there is another species that is reasonably believed to have been part of this galactic conglomerate, or closely associated with it – the sharu.

The sharu exist today, but they are a forgotten, isolated, and pathetic species that lives only on a single world. However, evidence points to them once being far more expansive and powerful in the past.

Sharu architecture and design is distinctive – pyramidions, sharp angles, and interiors that possess unparalleled acoustics. As you might discern, reader, Nathema is almost certainly a world of the old sharu. An elaborate ruin, but one that held secrets, knowledge, and history among its myriads of ruined cities. And into this treasure trove was funneled Sith researchers from across the galaxy who came for its plunder – and its power.

Have I set the scene appropriately? Let us continue.

Now we come to Vitiate. The ‘official’ story that the Dark Council allowed to propagate was as follows:

There was once a child born on Nathema named ‘Tenebrae,’ and this child quickly exhibited power beyond all expectations. When he first learned to speak, it was claimed that his voice carried a weight and authority that should not come from a child.

When Tenebrae became an adolescent, he began learning and studying dangerous and complex rituals that only Sith Masters could comprehend, which held the potential to destroy him along with his enemies. He mastered these rituals, and began using them, and this is where the details become vague in this particular tale.

Accounts of what happened to the Sith settlement differ. Some say that Tenebrae dominated them, and they were little more than thralls that he used toward unknown purposes. Others suggest that Tenebrae ignored them, instead taking what he wanted, but otherwise leaving them alone.

However, all theorists agree that when Tenebrae summoned all of the Sith to perform a particular ritual, it was obeyed. Tenebrae is then said to have performed the infamous ‘Nathema Ritual,’ consuming all life on the world and rendering it a husk, and granting him immortality and unprecedented power.

This is when Vitiate emerged, and went on to form the Sith Empire which he ruled for one thousand years.

That is the most common myth of Vitiate’s emergence.

There are… issues with this story, not least of which is that what records exist do not point to a boy called Tenebrae, nor is there a record of a strangely powerful child in the Force. One would think this would have been of note for Sith academics – famous for their extensive notes – yet strangely, there is hardly a mention.

This does not even deign to address the fact that – as history understands it – it was not Vitiate, but rather Lord Amaurth who reestablished the Sith Empire out of sight of the galaxy. Indeed, Vitiate would not visibly emerge as the immortal sovereign of the Sith for centuries after the Nathema Ritual.

This does not fully discredit the official myth – as the sheer destruction unleashed by the ritual resulted in the vast majority of records being lost. It is entirely possible the settlement or research outpost Tenebrae was a part of was more isolated, or he made a systematic effort to erase all record of his origin. Nonetheless, keep these discrepancies in mind.

Other stories paint a much different picture.

One suggests that Vitiate’s origins were far more mundane. That he was not an unusually powerful child, but that he was a Sith academic of an unknown name like hundreds of others at the time who had come to study the sharu ruins.

He was assessed to have been a particularly committed academic who devoured the texts and knowledge from the sharu ruins, and sought even more, delving into theories and ruins that no others had yet touched.

It suggests that Vitiate, when he was a mere Sith, was not particularly special, per se, but his academic talent allowed him to eventually learn or develop the Nathema Ritual – which he then used to ascend into a being of unprecedented power. This story is one that most of the ranking Sith Lords, including Darth Jadus, Darth Malgus, and Darth Thanaton believed held merit.

All of the stories tend to agree on a few points: that Vitiate spent some time on Nathema, that Vitiate was interested in the sharu, and that the Nathema Ritual was the catalyst that turned him from whoever he was before, into the most powerful Sith who has ever existed.

There are more obscure and esoteric theories, many of which are not worth mentioning, but there is one that proposes an interesting idea. It proposes that Vitiate was not a Sith at all – at least not one originally.

It instead proposes that he was something alien that came from… elsewhere. An entity that was already unfathomably old and powerful. Perhaps he was entombed in Nathema and accidentally awakened by the Sith, or he came from elsewhere and Nathema was simply the place where he began his domination. Assuming control of the Sith would therefore be a step on such an entity’s path, rather than the culmination of a grander plan.

Is such a theory plausible? If it is, what kind of entity might this be?

Plausible, but one I personally consider unlikely. There has been no record of such an entity existing, and I believe it is only considered seriously among Sith academics because it does help explain some of Vitiate’s more alien tendencies, and his general apathy to the Empire, the Sith, and the responsibilities of rule.

You will understand this shortly. Perhaps you will agree with them.

There is no single theory that is accepted as fact. Everyone agrees that there are substantial pieces of history missing, no matter the proposed origin. Because Nathema was destroyed so thoroughly, and all who might have known for sure perished so totally that their spirits never reached the Netherrealm. Thus, we will never know for sure.

So uncertain is Vitiate’s origins that even his species is a matter of debate. He has been described as a sith pureblood, a human, a miraluka, and even a sarkhai in numerous public and private records. Further complicating this is that there are credible sources who are understood to have personally met the Emperor who report different descriptions.

Even within the same species the appearance is inconsistent. Vitiate was known to have certain conduits for his power – his Voice, his Hands, his Wrath, yet the more credible sources are convinced that they spoke or met with the true Emperor. Some of them are certainly mistaken, but the sheer volume, and the lack of coherence, is significant.

One might believe that Vitiate was a shapeshifter after these accounts, and given his power, it is possible that he employed it on occasion – though it is impossible to say why, even if true.

The only physical aspect of Vitiate we know for certain was that he was male, but beyond this, everything else is steeped in uncertainty, legend, and rumor. At the end of the day, it is uncertain how much it matters.

Vitiate himself was apparently indifferent about the speculation around his origins and identity. He did not care if rumors – alternative to the one officially provided – spread.

It was irrelevant to him.

All that mattered was that his rule was unquestioned, and his power unchallenged.

Decide for yourself which story is the most plausible.

Let us move to what we do know of Emperor Vitiate.

ON EMPEROR VITIATE

The earliest days of the Sith Empire are critical to much of our understanding of its enigmatic Emperor – for they are among the only times where Vitiate personally took part in the management of it.

Though even this is… limited.

The myths of Vitiate portray the Emperor as the savior of the Sith, who, out of the ashes of Naga Sadow’s defeat, rebuilt an empire that would stand for a thousand years in utter secrecy. The learned should be noting some discrepancies with recorded fact, even if many contemporaries acknowledge the lack of firsthand accounts following Sadow’s death.

Yet this is where we must go. We cannot start at the undisputed date of Vitiate’s rule, but instead go further back, to the Great Hyperspace War.

I will not cover the details of that conflict, there are volumes galore should it pique your interest. Instead, I will begin at its end. The Republic and the Jedi decisively defeated the nascent Sith Empire, forcing Naga Sadow into exile as a result.

The Sith were broken. Scattered. Humiliated.

Denied their triumph; forced to retreat into the shadows.

We do not know the full extent of the chaos that followed, only that it was Sadow’s only surviving son, Lord Amaurth, who rose to prominence. It was he who led the remnants of the Sith Empire on a twenty-year Exodus across the fringes of Wild Space. Records of this time purportedly exist, but they are jealously guarded by their custodian, thus we must rely on surviving official proclamations and firsthand accounts. 

We know from the fragmented diaries of Admiral Seelok – a trusted military advisor during the Pure Sith War – that Amaurth was beset by visions as the years dragged on. Visions that became more and more intense, sometimes lasting hours at a time. Such realities were kept secret from the wider Sith, for such episodes would represent profound weakness.

It is not difficult to ascertain the source of these visions, dear reader.

Seelok implies that Amaurth sought to defy the visions, and ignoring their command for years before he acquiesced. The why was not elaborated on. Was it fear, pride, or disdain that led to Amaurth’s attempt to resist Vitiate’s call? We do not know, only that Amaurth eventually gave in and led his followers to Dromund Kaas.

Where he secretly met with Vitiate himself.

Only Amaurth and his most-trusted servants took part in the meeting. And when they beheld Vitiate, each bent the knee and swore a secret oath to the true Emperor. But Vitiate had little interest in ruling at this time, and had in fact been waiting for Amaurth’s arrival – for such an individual was ideal to rule.

If Amaurth feared he would be a mere puppet, these fears, from what we understand, were baseless. Vitiate left the details of rule to Amaurth’s caprice, though he knew better than to challenge his patron.

Amaurth was imbued with greater power, similar to what Vitiate would later give his Wraths. There is an argument to be made that Amaurth was the first recorded Wrath – but I question the appropriateness of such a moniker, for Amaurth ruled as Emperor, not as a subordinate. I believe that there is no traditional role we can ascribe to Amaurth’s place in Vitiate’s hierarchy.

Perhaps it was a means to an end. Vitiate had priorities beyond the Sith, and departed Dromund Kaas for places unknown soon after Amaurth’s proclamation as the Sith Emperor.

From this humble beginning, Amaurth set about reconstituting the Sith Empire proper. Much of the structures of his father’s realm were retained, but much was altered as well. What are we to make of this? Amaurth’s leash was relatively loose, but nothing he did was done without Vitiate’s approval, surely.

We do not know for certain, however, I believe it likely that even if Amaurth was given complete freedom, he almost certainly knew what would be likely to draw Vitiate’s attention… and ire. Yet it is equally possible Vitiate made specific demands, and such were executed without complaint. The fact that we cannot discern such speaks more to the resonance of Sith philosophy and Vitiate’s personality than anything else.

One of the first institutions Amaurth created was the Dark Council; a body of the most powerful and influential Sith within their number – though notably, the first Council was composed exclusively by his confederates, those who bore witness to Vitiate. Unlike nearly all of the Sith, each of these councilors answered to the true Emperor. 

Reconstruction and eventual expansion continued apace for a thousand years, until the Empire was finally ready to reassert itself. The direct intervention of Amaurth’s Sith Empire did not begin at once, but after years spent seeding the Republic and Jedi Order with loyalists, while the factories deep within the Empire churned out warships, droids, and weapons that would empower the ranks of the Sith armies – including at least seven refurbished rakatan shipyards.

Pay close attention to what happened next, reader.

It is important, I promise.

Despite such preparations, despite the amassing of a force intended to exceed and avenge the defeat in the Great Hyperspace War, what history knows as the ‘Pure Sith War’ was a relatively short affair in the grand scheme, barely five standard years, but devastating in its consequences. 

Trillions dead. Nearly two dozen worlds glassed beyond recognition. The Jedi Order brought to near-extinction. Yet in the end, there were just enough Jedi left to end Sith ambitions.

The conflict was only settled when the son of Darth Revan laid down his life in exchange for Lord Amaurth’s, and the will of the Sith Empire was broken once more.

What remained of the Dark Council and military high command squabbled in the galactic shadows, settling scores, casting blame, and taking revenge against those they perceived as responsible for the failure – all while dodging Republican efforts to cleanse their threat, a difficult task as the Core Worlds had been ruined in the conflict. Yet one by one, the remnants of the Sith were wiped out to an individual.

Once again, the Sith Empire had been defeated – for good this time.

The utter destruction left by the Pure Sith War was so extensive, that the only equivalent event of such damage is the Galactic Dark Age. And while the Pure Sith War was not so destructive as to practically end civilization as we enjoy it – it came very, very close.

Do you have questions? Is there something in this tale that does not add up?

There should be.

How is it, you might wonder, how despite decades of preparation, the Empire was defeated by a Republic which had faced multiple ruinous wars, a Jedi Order more fractured than at any point in its history, and with the most powerful Sith since Naga Sadow himself leading them?

Perhaps more importantly – why were the Jedi so convinced that the death of Amaurth marked the true end of the Sith Empire? Did they not find their way to the worlds of Dromund Kaas and other core worlds of the Empire?

No, reader. They did not.

In truth, reader, the ‘Sith Empire’ that was sent into the galaxy was but a fraction of the power of the true Sith Empire, and centralized around a world named Zonju V, situated in the galactic south – nearly as far away from Dromund Kaas as one can reach. I have often wondered if Amaurth willingly played his role, or if it was here that Vitiate truly took hold as he sent him to test the strength of a battered galaxy. Or perhaps Vitiate had felt Amaurth was becoming too ambitious, and sought a way to dispose of him.

I am unconvinced of this, if for no reason than if Amaurth threatened Vitiate in any way, he would not have bothered with such an elaborate scheme. The Emperor never hesitated to be direct when he removed those who displeased or failed him in any way; such politics he was above.

Yet I cannot deny there was an effort to ensure that Amaurth’s most devoted, most loyal, and most ardent followers were with him as he waged the Pure Sith War. A mere fraction of the Empire, but the highest ranks of Sith, government, and military alike were purged of veteran leaders and masters of decades of experience and knowledge.

The slate was laid bare for another to come and assert dominion.

Amaurth’s death, and that of the entire leadership of the Empire, bred chaos and uncertainty. And it was here that Vitiate finally emerged to publicly claim the throne that had always been his.

He did not claim to be a successor of Amaurth. He did not mention Amaurth’s name at all. He did not even provide a pretext for his seizure of power. He merely appeared in one of his only addresses to the entire Empire, to declare himself Emperor.

All who bore witness bent the knee.

Monuments were erected, towering statues built, and imposing temples constructed to venerate the Emperor – most notably the Dark Temple. His approved visage became widespread throughout Dromund Kaas and the Empire as a whole, while those which had venerated Amaurth were torn down, and soon Amaurth was virtually erased from the history of the Empire as a whole.

However, for most people, these statues and likenesses were all that they would see of the Sith Emperor. His direct words and proclamations, already scarce, became fewer and fewer as the Empire developed, matured, and grew more sophisticated.

The Sith Emperor was closer to myth than reality for most. When he deigned to communicate, it was solely to the Dark Council. Decades passed with not a single sighting. A generation flourished and perished never hearing his voice. He was both omnipresent and utterly silent.

Vitiate was often invoked as a specter; a threat; an embodiment of a nameless terror one beheld upon witnessing a figure of godhood. Among the Sith, he embodied an individual beyond all conventions of authority and power. His subjects were of varying opinions on him. Some did not care, some resented the Emperor’s absence, and others viewed him with a careful wariness.

To them, the Emperor’s actions were not those of an apathetic or lazy ruler, but of a higher being who had no interest in mortal affairs – and thus, passed such responsibility to them.

I believe this is true in some key respects – however, I believe they err in one aspect. I believe Vitiate gave the Sith even less thought than they themselves suspected – and certainly he gave no mind to the average Imperial citizen. Vitiate’s interest in the Empire, as far as it pertained to its function, only lasted in the days after Amaurth’s death, and primarily to ensure that it functioned.

Once the framework was established, his retreat into his own affairs was as swift as it had been after he had first bequeathed the Sith to Amaurth’s custodianship.

Vitiate lacked a desire to rule. The concept, and its execution, was something that he seemed to consider beneath him; a distraction from his true interests.

Why become Emperor then? Why not uplift another to serve the same role as Amaurth had? I can only presume because it provided him with the reach and resources he would otherwise not have. I also suspect that there was something about Amaurth’s rule that displeased Vitiate, or he merely considered a figure like Amaurth ultimately unnecessary. What need did he have of a puppet? What fear did he have of being known as the highest of all Sith?

None, reader. Make no mistake, Vitiate eclipsed every living Sith several times over, yet this power did not translate into a desire to reign.

In a way, this is antithetical to our ways, yet this is Vitiate using power as he sees fit – the Sith were not entitled to his leadership, for they had not earned it. Such is our way, even if we frown upon it.

While the Emperor did not spend his time ruling, it did not stop him from acting in ways that many in the Empire did not see, beyond the most attentive and those on the Dark Council.

The creation of parallel organizations and bodies. The recruitment and usage of individuals who served the Emperor, and only the Emperor. The Hands of the Empire, the Imperial Guard, the Voices of the Emperor, the Children of the Emperor. All of these bodies were created on the Emperor’s initiative; independent, and instilled with authority to act as they – and the Emperor – saw fit.

All of these existed in parallel with the Sith Empire; holding functional immunity within the existing structures of the Empire, yet no one – not even the Dark Council – had insight into their true function. Barring the Imperial Guard, almost all of the mechanisms of the Emperor’s reach were invisible or relegated to rumor and hearsay.

This, as you might imagine, was not necessarily viewed fondly amongst the Sith or within the wider Imperial administration. There were concerns that this would open the Empire up to corruption and abuse by charlatans and opportunists – for what was to stop a Sith from claiming to act on behalf of the Emperor?

To challenge the Emperor’s will was certain death, and rarely did the tools of the Emperor provide verification. It was an inherent expectation that those who served the Emperor needed no justification to act. Would it not be better to accept a dubious claim than risk interfering with the Emperor’s will? That was the calculation – and fear – many in the Empire made.

It was a justified one, reader.

There are stories that seem outrageous in hindsight of this very thing happening. Tales of Sith like Darth Baras who had the audacity to claim he was the Voice of Emperor – and the Dark Council itself was reluctant to challenge him, despite knowing it was almost certainly false. There are less egregious examples, such as Sith using the Emperor’s authority to gain relics, access certain locations, and undermine rivals.

Often, they could get away with it for a time, however, this is rarer than you might think.

It was often claimed that the Emperor, especially in the later eras of the Empire, was distant and apathetic as to have not even spoken with the Dark Council in centuries. This is again, only a partial truth. While the Emperor had little interest in the affairs, politics, and power struggles of the Sith – he was deeply attuned to everything that pertained to his objectives and activities.

Including those who attempted to falsely claim his authority.

Vitiate did not always act immediately when he became aware of such frauds, but when he did, it was done in such a way that only served to reinforce his own authority as the undisputed master of the Sith. Indeed, Baras’s downfall came at the hands of the Apprentice he tried to betray – who was then declared the Emperor’s Wrath, a decision announced to the Dark Council through the Mouth of the Emperor who had not spoken within the Council Chambers in centuries.

All of this leads to a question doubtless on your mind.

What was Vitiate doing? If he was not ruling the Sith Empire, what so occupied his time and interests?

This has been a question many scholars far older than I have attempted to answer. The truth, reader, is that accurate facts are fleeting and ephemeral. We have conjecture, speculation, and bits and pieces of the truth from a myriad of biased sources. There is enough that you can reasonably come to several conclusions.

I am not here to give you a certain answer, only to present you with the most credible evidence that exists.

I will be relying on a few specific sources, some of which may surprise you. They include the most famous of the Emperor’s Wraths, Darth Vauner, but you may be surprised to learn that our best insight comes not from a Sith – but a Jedi Knight.

Cain Eskevar, better known as the ‘Hero of Tython,’ is deeply tied to the story of Emperor Vitiate, just as, if not more than Vauner is. He and his followers included others closely tied to the Emperor, such as Kira Carsen, a Child of the Emperor, and Lord Scourge – the Wrath that preceded Vauner.

Eskevar kept detailed notes of his travels and missions. His journal is biased, obviously, but a critical source concerning Vitiate. There are some Sith who reject such knowledge merely due to its source. I do not have the luxury of such blindness; instead, I would merely recognize what he writes is from the perspective of a Jedi, and to place his words in an appropriate context.

The words of our enemies need not be rejected out of hand. They may not understand us, or even care to, but within their words can be critical knowledge that need only be extracted, considered, and compared.

And the fact is this, the number of sources concerning Vitiate that can be considered reliable are exceedingly few. I believe this is one of them, especially when placed in the broader context of other tangentially related writings from the Sith, including Vauner.

So let us discuss this Jedi, and what led his path to cross the Sith Emperor’s – and sent the entire Jedi Order on the path of war.

ON THE HERO OF TYTHON AND THE HUNT FOR VITIATE

Allow me to speak on Cain Eskevar, perhaps better known to learned historians as the Hero of Tython. A human of relatively unremarkable origins who rose to become one of the most powerful and influential Jedi of his era.

Like most Jedi, he was taken by the Jedi as an infant, and raised in the Jedi Temples where his gift with the Force was noted and nurtured. Many expected that he would become an exemplar of the Order; one who would uphold the vaunted Jedi values. His training was accelerated, and though he was barely an adult, he was sent to Tython.

This was the first step in a rather impressive journey, as he soon became entangled in a vast conspiracy concerning the Sith, Republic military, and Jedi after prototypes of Republic-developed superweapons fell into Sith hands.

To summarize this story briefly, he took the lead in this joint Jedi-Republic-SIS operation which was able to successfully reclaim or disrupt the superweapons, capture or kill the Sith or agents responsible for their usage, and save multiple worlds – including Tython – from near-certain destruction.

Thus, for his actions, he was declared a Jedi Knight, and dubbed the Hero of Tython – a moniker that would remain with him for the rest of his life.

Now we come to the relevant part of this man’s story.

His victory earned him the attention of the Jedi Council, who moved him into a top-secret operation that they had been planning for years – an operation to capture or kill the Sith Emperor.

The top minds of the Republic were involved. Elite Republican military advisors, veteran SIS agents, Jedi Masters and Councilors. While the team was small, it was elite, and Eskevar would be in charge of leading the strike team that would penetrate, seize, or destroy the location they believed the Emperor to have been residing in for a period of years.

It was a station they called the ‘Emperor’s Fortress’ – whose danger lay not necessarily in its contents, but in its location. It resided deep within a galactic anomaly that was only just starting to be researched, and which all explorers tended to avoid at all costs.

The Maw.

The Jedi knew for certain that the Emperor’s Fortress lay inside – but the path to get there was treacherous. Before they could even think about facing the Emperor, charting a route to the station itself would be a monumental challenge, requiring specialists, intelligence, and technology that they currently lacked.

Something they assigned to Eskevar.

They assumed that this would be the easy part. Once inside, they planned to either capture or kill the Emperor – though the latter was assured if the former could not be accomplished.

You may consider this entire operation a ludicrous proposition, but it is important to understand that the Jedi did not know the Emperor well. Their assumption – and an understandable one – was that the Emperor was simply the most powerful Sith. Powerful in a way they believed was conventional, and Eskevar was one of the most powerful Jedi alive, and supported with some of the best Jedi in the Order.

Alas, they did not consider an alternative.

They spent nearly a year gathering the necessary intelligence and capabilities to chart a safe path through the Maw to the Emperor’s Fortress, one which they acknowledged was still prone to risk – and they could not risk sending a drone, for fear of tipping the Emperor off to the fact they had located him.

The final piece of the puzzle involved a major operation against the Maelstrom Prison, leading to the freedom of a prisoner who was believed to be long-dead, Darth Revan. Revan had been Vitiate’s captive for centuries, and he was able to provide the Jedi with details on Vitiate, the Emperor’s Fortress, and a wealth of additional knowledge they’d lacked before.

It was now or never.

A time was set. Preparations were made. The course was charted, and the strike team led by Eskevar set off into the Maw, and the Jedi Council anxiously awaited their return.

They never did

Days passed. Then weeks. After a month, the Council concluded that the operation had failed, or the strike team had been lost in a black hole. They assumed the latter, because if the team had reached the Emperor and failed, they expected that the Empire would be blasting it to the HoloNet.

But they did not, forcing them to conclude the team had never even made it to the Fortress at all.

The Jedi held a private funeral for Eskevar and his team, only disclosing that they had perished in a dangerous operation against the Sith, which was a devastating blow to morale for the Republic, and a moment of relief for the Sith.

Normalcy was beginning to set in again, as the Jedi attempted to determine what went wrong, only to have everything upended when the Hero of Tython suddenly returned.

The man who landed on Tython was barely recognizable as the Jedi who had been Cain Eskevar. He was described as disheveled, moving stiffly, with bloodshot eyes, and whose power seemed to be tangible around him. His only companion was a sith pureblood, who he insisted had to accompany him.

He stormed into the Council Chambers, and only then did they learn what had happened.

The strike team had successfully charted the course of the Fortress, and penetrated the station. They had been able to reach the Emperor – in fact, no one, not even the nominal guards opposed them on their way – but there was no confrontation. Eskevar described that with seemingly no effort, Vitiate had imposed his will over them, killing many of the Jedi instantly, and subjugating those who had been seen as useful to his will.

Eskevar’s Apprentice, Kira Carsen, a wayward Child of the Emperor, was brought back into the fold, while Eskevar along with several of the Jedi Masters accompanying him, had been dominated by the Emperor’s will.

And they had been working to fulfill his will for that entire year.

This is the first real insight we gained as to what Vitiate was doing. Eskevar described his work under the Emperor’s control as exploring obscure, dangerous worlds that once belonged to precursor civilizations.

These worlds were often tombs, sometimes they had strange anomalies, Force-based and otherwise. Sometimes they had still-active defenses, sometimes they were trapped. Eskevar recalled that he was the first one sent in to ensure that the ruins or technology was safe to operate in, and the Emperor’s other servants would follow to properly research or study the area.

Eskevar described himself under the Emperor as operating in a fugue state, aware of what was happening, but numb to it.

He described it as a form of domination where he acted as a natural extension of Vitiate’s will – where the Emperor did not need to give explicit orders, for he knew them innately. Yet Vitiate was presumably careless in one respect – Eskevar was able to glean details and piece together better insight into the Emperor’s operation than many in the Empire knew because Vitiate believed his domination would not be broken, and his control absolute.

This is a notable – and plausible – proposal because something very similar was said by Revan, when describing his time as the Emperor’s captive.

Eskevar could not do anything in his state, of course, but knowledge was not obscured, and he absorbed what he did, and the places he went. He eventually became more useful to the Emperor, and was used for more sensitive and critical operations the Emperor was undertaking.

It is from him that we have a name for what Vitiate was interested in. Eskevar claimed that all of Vitiate’s research, or at least his present focus, revolved around something called ‘Abeloth.’

If you do not know what that means, I am afraid that I can offer no enlightenment. I have attempted to find even the most tenuous explanation for what Abeloth is or represents, yet the word is unique in that it stands entirely alone. It could be a location, an object, an individual, or perhaps simply what Vitiate called it.

We do not know, and unfortunately, no one learned exactly what Abeloth was – only that Vitiate was very interested in it, and all of the knowledge and technologies he gathered were being used to either find or understand it. Lord Scourge also verified that Abeloth was an interest of Vitiate’s, but was also ignorant of what it meant.

But how did Eskevar break free?

Ah, now this is a very curious development.

According to Eskevar, he did not break free of his own actions, but instead with the assistance of an outside party. A spirit appeared to him, stating that his service to the Emperor had ended, and it was the first time he recalled being able to think without the Emperor’s will imposed on him.

Eskevar first thought it was his old Master, who had perished at the hands of the Sith, years earlier – but testified that it revealed itself as someone significantly more powerful. Powerful enough to forge a direct connection to him that was able to break the Emperor’s hold over him.

Who, reader, might you think has the power to perform such a feat?

A man who called himself ‘Valkorian.’

None of the Jedi knew who this was, of course, and assumed he was merely a powerful spirit who had fortunately intervened to save Eskevar. Valkorian revealed to him that the Emperor’s Wrath – Lord Scourge – had no loyalty to Vitiate, and that he needed to escape with him. Against the odds, they did so.

Lord Scourge was important, because he knew what the Emperor was planning to do next.

Replicate the Nathema Ritual across the galaxy.

Acolytes were already being sent out to see this done – on Republic and Imperial worlds alike. No one, not the Sith, not the Jedi, knew what the Emperor planned to do, or to what end. Eskevar believed that the rituals were experiments, not true replications of the Nathema Ritual, but certain theories and ideas put into practice.

Lord Scourge believed the objective was simpler – he believed that Vitiate had always sought true godhood, and that he needed the Nathema Ritual to further increase his power. He feared that if Vitiate succeeded even once, he would become truly unstoppable, and would spell doom for the galaxy.

Empire. Republic. All of it would serve Vitiate.

No matter the true reason – and we simply do not know if either theory is true – it was agreed that the Emperor had to be stopped.

Furthermore, the Children of the Emperor were also spread across the galaxy, especially in the Republic and the Jedi, and at a single command they would rise to cause havoc. As it stood, they were an infestation that had to be rooted out.

There was very little time to act, so the Jedi did.

They placed Eskevar in charge of field operations to stop the Emperor’s acolytes, while tasking the Barsen’thor with purging the Children of the Emperor from the Jedi and Republic.

To add more chaos to a volatile situation, the war between the Republic and Empire, long brewing, kicked off with the seizure of Corellia. Everything quickly devolved as the Jedi were brought into a war, while simultaneously trying to stop what they believed was armageddon.

While it cost the lives of many Jedi, Eskevar was able to stop the plans of the Emperor across over a dozen worlds. We unfortunately don’t know the details of what rituals the Emperor was attempting to conduct, as the Jedi made sure to thoroughly destroy any knowledge of what had been done, but the fact they remain standing implies that the Jedi were successful in stopping the Emperor’s plans for them.

The hunt for the Children of the Emperor had more visible ramifications on the galaxy – as allies of the Jedi, along with opportunists, saw a chance to shape the Republic in a way that was suited for war. The newly-ascendant Chancellor Saresh in particular oversaw a vast purge of the Senate and Republic civil services under accusations of being a Child of the Emperor.

While the Senate and numerous planetary administrations across the Republic lay gutted, the purge did succeed in blunting the Emperor’s ability to influence or meddle in the Republic. Combined with Eskevar’s successes in the field, it seemed for a time that Vitiate had been thwarted, even if the Emperor still lived.

As the Jedi carefully watched for any sign of activity from Vitiate, their attention slowly transitioned back to the Sith Empire as a whole, where Eskevar – and a heavily scrutinized Scourge – took to the field. This gradual shift continued until the Revanite War, which caught both sides flat-footed.

That particular event has been covered in sufficient detail elsewhere. What is relevant here is that the combined chaos of the Revanite War, the efforts of the Jedi to weaken him, and the decimated Empire, Vitiate was finally forced to take notice and return personally to the Sith Empire.

ON THE RETURN OF VITIATE AND INVASION OF THE ETERNAL EMPIRE

Let me briefly pause. Much has been said on how the Republic addressed Vitiate, but little on what was happening in the Empire during this same period, or how the newly appointed Emperor’s Wrath, Darth Vauner, fit within it.

One might assume that there was no one who would be closer to the Emperor than the Wrath, but this was not the case. The Wrath was always the sword of the Emperor, his weapon and voice in the most visceral of terms. Lord Scourge appeared to be performing work similar to what Eskevar was doing, very much involved in, though not commanding the operations Vitiate was orchestrating.

However, unlike Lord Scourge, who rarely showed himself outside of the Emperor’s operations, Darth Vauner inserted himself in the heart of imperial affairs and politics.

It was often grumbled that Vauner was simply abusing the authority of the Emperor to achieve his own political – and heretical, as many whispered – ambitions, for Vauner was a deeply unorthodox Sith. A reformist and iconoclast who would have found more in common with the Jedi than his brethren.

I do not believe this was accidental.

Because while Vauner was being a thorn in the side of the Dark Council, Emperor Jadus, and Darth Nox, there was no one who was paying attention to what Vitiate was actually doing. That, I believe, was why Vitiate elevated Vauner to this position. Vitiate cared not for Sith politics, nor traditional concepts of the light or dark – but he understood them. So elevating Vauner was not an unexpected choice, presuming this is the true reason for his elevation.

Vauner spent most of his time clashing within this unofficial triumvirate, along with leading offensives against the Republic, Jedi, and Revan when he emerged. Curiously, he never came into contact with Eskevar, nor was brought in by the Emperor to see that his rituals or plans were successful – at least at first.

One wonders if it was because Vitiate believed he would be defeated by Eskevar, or worse, that Vauner would react similarly to the Jedi upon hearing the scale of his plans. We do not know, and will never know. Perhaps Vitiate simply believed it was more important that he distracted the Sith than ensured his victory.

If you recall, there were planned rituals on Imperial worlds as well as Republic ones – and it was Lord Scourge who worked with Sith and Imperial traitors to oppose the Emperor, and in many respects was successful in this attempt.

It is not clear how Scourge was able to perform this so successfully, and so regularly. It seemed that no matter where he operated, there were just the right individuals, just ready to be swayed to stop Vitiate’s plans. Or there was the right person, in the right position, to see it done – all while loyal Sith and Imperial institutions were hapless to stop it.

One might say they seemed ignorant of what was happening, which is strange to consider under Emperor Jadus, even if many of these worlds were obscure and sparsely populated. Some have speculated that Jadus had learned of Vitiate’s plans, and was covertly supporting Scourge’s efforts, but this is… dubious.

Not least of which because Vitiate was the singular individual who threatened him. Jadus was many things, but he knew that his own authority had a limit if Vitiate truly chose to challenge him. I do not think he would risk Vitiate’s ire, but it does not explain his ignorance to these events, even if his focus was squarely on crushing Darth Malgus’s rebellion, and the Republic and Jedi armies.

I do not think we will have an answer, but it does not change the outcome. Though Vitiate did notice, and at last sent Vauner to kill Scourge once and for all. On the world of Ziost, Scourge had managed to once more prevent Vitiate’s rituals from being carried out – but was unable to escape before Darth Vauner arrived.

The clash between the two Wraths was one that Sith recorded in awe, for both were Sith of significant power, but eventually, Vauner struck down Scourge, and ended the threat the rogue Sith posed.

We now come to the Revanite War, and will move to what comes after it.

Following Revan’s defeat, and with both Republic and Empire in shambles, and Nox looking to seize power, Vitiate decided that it was time to take direct action. For the first time in centuries, the Sith Emperor publicly arrived on Dromund Kaas, and addressed the entire Sith Empire – and the galaxy at large – from his Citadel.

The transcript is short, and the Emperor simply stated that the Empire would be reconstituted, all Sith would submit to his authority, and that the Republic and Jedi would soon be extinct. Vitiate’s return rejuvenated the Sith, and struck fear into the Republic who were drained of many of their best warriors, economically devastated, and were suffering the effects of a multi-year galactic war.

It is almost certain that Vitiate would have been able to lead the Sith Empire to a total victory – and that was when the Eternal Empire began their invasion, striking the borders of the Sith Empire. Vitiate disappeared soon after news broke, and nominal authority fell to Nox as she tried to orchestrate a defense.

The Emperor was nowhere to be found, the Sith were attempting to mount a defense, and many Sith openly demanded to know where the Emperor had gone – which nobody, not even Vauner, knew for certain.

But the Jedi did – his fortress within the Maw.

No one knew why he had retreated there, or what he was doing, nor the grave threat Zakuul posed – but they instantly knew that this might be their only chance to kill the Emperor once and for all. So Eskevar, Satele Shan, and the best of the Jedi Order that remained gathered. Four hundred of the Order’s best departed for one final mission to kill the Sith Emperor.

I would like to describe the glorious battle that doubtless took place, as the Jedi challenged perhaps the most powerful Sith to ever live.

But I cannot.

I am afraid that Vitiate’s story ends on a rather unsatisfying note, because no one knows exactly what happened next – a running theme as it concerns Vitiate, you may have noticed. Ironically, it has a similar ending to the first assault on Vitiate’s fortress, one of unknowns and assumptions.

However, neither Vitiate, nor Eskevar, nor any of the other Jedi were ever seen again. Perhaps they were swallowed by one of the Maw’s many black holes. Perhaps they succeeded in killing Vitiate at the cost of their lives. Perhaps Vitiate destroyed everything with a ritual. We do not know, and I am afraid we will never know.

I would also not put it past Valkorian to have meddled or influenced the outcome in some way. How, I do not know; I doubt he was there personally, but he retained a connection to Eskevar, and it is not unlikely this was utilized in a final confrontation with Vitiate. If it was enough? We cannot say.

Perhaps it is fitting, for a man who had such unfathomable power, but was so nebulous, to disappear from the face of the galaxy, and from history, in just as unknown a manner as he stepped into it.

There has never been a Sith like Vitiate, and I do not know if there will be again. In the Dark Age that followed, his name was one that faded – though not completely. Vitiate’s name persists, and while it took many centuries, his legacy has at last reasserted itself.

ON THE PURSUIT OF DIVINITY

You have read the end of Emperor Vitiate’s story, but what of his legacy?

You may wonder why Vitiate, despite his long rule and power, has not had an impact on the Sith in the way others have. You will not see him cited as an inspiration, a force, or an influence on any Sith trailblazers and philosophers even thousands of years later.

At best, you will see an acknowledgement that he was one of the notable Sith – but even in comparison to Sith like Revan, his impact seems minimal. His histories are limited. Some might even call him the ‘absent Emperor’ or other titles born of shallow research and ignorant minds.

This is both due to the circumstances, particularly the Galactic Dark Age, and because Vitiate left almost nothing for even those who were interested in him to continue his legacy. As you have read, we have firsthand and secondhand accounts of those who were in the vicinity of Vitiate, with nothing from Vitiate himself on what he wanted or believed. This obfuscation, combined with the Galactic Dark Age, ensured that Vitiate at most remained a historical figure whose story is woefully incomplete.

However, while his influence on the Sith became moot, it came to the forefront in an unexpected way.

Enter a certain man by the name of Urosh.

I could tell you what little we know of this man, but much like Vitiate, there is much about him that we can only approximate. Four hundred years ago, he was a man who would only introduce himself as a simple wanderer to the few who encountered him. It is unlikely he was a Jedi, nor was he part of any Force-using sect we are aware of.

Some believe that he was once part of the Whills, perhaps an exiled member, but I am unsure of this claim. He could merely have been as he presented himself – a wanderer who had managed to master the ways of the Force, and was seeking the secrets of the galaxy.

Such is not without precedent – there have been isolated, but verified instances of powerful self-taught Force-users wandering the galaxy, especially in the Outer Rim or Unknown Regions.

Urosh’s path is one that would be echoed by many future members of the Order of Vitiate. A desire for knowledge; a hunger for secrets; an inclination that there was something fundamental to the universe that no one was understanding or grasping. He possessed a strangely spiritual outlook on the Force; a fervent belief in its inherent divinity.

Divinity that could be grasped; could be mastered.

He believed that these divine entities had wandered the galaxy once. That this divinity was not something only in the minds of the mad, but something that could be achieved. This path eventually led him to learn of Vitiate – and it was this trail he followed.

He traveled across the galaxy, learning as much as he could of the individuals and histories associated with the Sith Emperor. Eskevar, Vauner, Scourge, even tangentially related figures such as Jadus, Nox, Shan, Revan, and more. He was not the first to try and study Vitiate, but he differed in that he was more interested in what Vitiate sought, than Vitiate as an individual, for there was little there.

But unlike his predecessors in this task, he believed he understood what Vitiate had attempted to do; what he was pursuing all along.

And from this research, the Philosophy of the Godhead was founded.

I promise to elaborate on this greatly in the following section, but suffice to say his writings serve as the underlying philosophy of the Order of Emperor Vitiate, and is Urosh’s understanding of what Vitiate was seeking. This philosophy has undergone some revision and expansion in the time since Urosh, but only concerning minute details – the core remains the same.

It was shortly after developing this philosophy that Urosh encountered the Sith Collective, and had an audience with Lady Vathila herself, who was intrigued by the theories he proposed. Many scholars were also interested because he possessed the most thorough understanding of Vitiate they had encountered; a Sith that even we at the time did not have a strong understanding of.

Seeing that Urosh had vision, power, and structure behind him, Lady Vathila in her wisdom extended an offer to Urosh to join the Sith Collective and found the Order of Emperor Vitiate, which would allow him to refine his ideas more thoroughly.

It was an offer that Urosh gratefully accepted, and thus, the Order was founded, and they have since become an important and distinguished part of our Collective, one that his successors have continued to expand and built upon in certainly unique ways.

You doubtless have many questions right now, reader. Let us address one that is perhaps the most important.

What does the Order of Vitiate believe?

ON THE GODHEAD

The driving philosophy of the Order of Vitiate significantly differs from other Sith Orders. Such a statement you may find redundant or useless, for are not all Sith Orders fundamentally different from each other?

They are, but there are commonalities and overarching virtues that tie many of them together.

In this respect, the philosophy of the Order of Vitiate diverges from convention because so little of it is tied to Vitiate himself.

There is more than one reason for this. Part of it is simply inevitability. Vitiate left no holocrons or writings outlining what he truly believed and sought to achieve, and as a result, the founders and successors of the Order of Vitiate were forced to make assumptions and extrapolations that result in something that does not revolve around Vitiate himself.

However, in the process of doing so, they have arguably bypassed Vitiate altogether, instead orienting the Order around not Vitiate, but what they believe he intended to achieve.

Thus, the philosophy of the Godhead has emerged – one that is among the most alien that you will find in the Sith Collective, and also in the wider galaxy.

It is based on no Sith teachings, no conventional theories, and you will be unable to find anything even resembling its core tenants outside of the Order itself. If you wonder if it is anchored in something more heretical, such as the Jedi, rest assured that they do not have any ideas resembling what the philosophy of the Godhead proposes.

I imagine the Jedi would be horrified by the implications.

I do admit some amusement that despite the commitment, depth, and creativity of this particular philosophy, there is surprisingly little evidence that it is actually what Vitiate believed, even remotely, let alone pursued. It is only what the Order of Vitiate believes it to be, seemingly on faith. Perhaps there is stronger proof, but if such exists, it has not been shared.

Let us dispense with the preamble. What is the Godhead?

The Godhead is both a concept and something real.

The Godhead Theorem posits that there exists an entity that holds dominion over all aspects of reality. The Order of Vitiate understands this to mean both the natural laws that underline reality – physics, thermodynamics, and other sciences – along with the Force itself.

In short, the Godhead is omnipotent divinity. A god in the purest and grandest sense of the word.

It is a highly esoteric concept, because the Order of Vitiate believes that the Godhead is inevitable. That the Godhead is and has always existed, and only has yet to manifest – and once it does manifest, time itself falls under its dominion. Therefore, the Godhead not only will exist, it already exists, and has always existed.

There are doubtless some questions that arise – chief amongst them being if this entity has always existed, and time itself falls under its domain, why does it not act in the present?

That has a very important answer within the Order of Vitiate, one tied to their own existence. Bear with me, for this explanation handles with highly subjective and theoretical ideas – though doubtless fascinating ones.

While the Godhead has the ability to see through time, it cannot affect time prior to the moment of its manifestation. Thus, the Order of Vitiate believes that the Godhead is capable of observing the historical timeline of the galaxy, and all aspects from its creation – it cannot interact with it prior to that critical point.

I have spoken with several scholars concerning such a possibility, and was interested to learn that the underlying idea is plausible – with the slight caveat that there is no indication that such a thing has ever existed. It exists in the realm of theory, and nothing more.

However, reader, you see what this means for the Order of Vitiate. The Godhead is not an abstract entity to them – it is very real, and they believe the Godhead watches them, and will judge, reward, and punish all those who either assisted its manifestation, or sought to prevent it.

This is their purpose – to accelerate the manifestation of the Godhead. In short, their entire Order is all in service to an entity that has yet to exist and has always existed.

And that when the Godhead manifests, they will ascend into godhood themselves.

It is due to this underlying submission, and adherence to such an alien ideology, that the Order of Vitiate is considered… divergent among its colleagues. This is merely the philosophical differences. On a structural, organizational level they are similarly distinct.

They are organized to a degree that makes the Order of Snoke envious in their discipline and resolve. There is no waste. There is no hesitation. There is no doubt. Each individual has a place within it; a harmonious machine that is orchestrated around service to the Godhead. I do not use the term machine rhetorically – it is the best analogy that fits.

It is something you will not grasp until you see it for yourself.

Within the Order, the only ones who even ask questions concerning the Philosophy of the Godhead are the Supplicants, the lowest rank within the Order. However, that is an expected step on their indoctrination, and their doubts are quickly erased as they are taught the philosophy and the expectations of their service are defined.

The doubters quickly vanish from their ranks. The defiant are culled. The heterodox silenced.

This progression from initiate to devotee reflects the Order of Vitiate’s ultimate plans. To the Order, there are only two paths for life in the galaxy. All things will either serve divinity, which is embodied in the Godhead – or they will ascend to divinity themselves, becoming part of the Godhead.

This is where we add yet another layer to this ambition.

Understand what I am about to say is not something the Order has ever, or likely will ever share. Nor that it is certain, but instead something based on my own observations, and the wisdom of other Sith colleagues who have spent time attempting to understand both the Order of Vitiate, and the Godhead.

There are two possible branches of the driving force of the Order of Vitiate and their relation to the Godhead. The first is that when the Godhead manifests, their reward will be ascension into it, effectively merging and becoming divine.

However, another possibility has been proposed, which is that the Order does not believe that they will ascend into the manifested Godhead – they will become the Godhead itself. For how else are they to manifest the Godhead if they do not become it in some capacity?

I do not know which the Order believes is their purpose – but I am inclined towards the second. There remain some questions if this is the case, such as if the Order believes themselves critical to the manifestation of the Godhead, how do they know it is inevitable? I can posit some answers, but that is a better exercise for you, reader.

Consider what I have shared, and keep this in your mind as you continue reading. Some important patterns and norms will reveal themselves.

If this entire philosophy sounds irregular and alien within the Sith, you are not alone in thinking so. It is not unusual for Sith to subordinate themselves to one who is more powerful than them – it is a necessary part of coming into one’s own power.

But this is different.

It is one thing to act in service to an individual of power. Even the greatest Sith Lords once served or acted on behalf of another. However, these Masters were real and whose impact could be seen and felt. Moreover, permanent submission was never an ambition – all Sith aspire to rise above their Masters – or so they should.

In contrast, the Godhead is not believed to exist outside of the Order of Vitiate. Until the Godhead manifests, they serve a concept rather than something real. Nor do they seek to usurp or surpass the Godhead – but at best become part of its divinity, forsaking themselves in the process.

Is that an appropriate ambition for a Sith?

Perhaps. The theoretical Godhead is powerful beyond imagining. It is not completely divorced from Sith thought or ambition – yet I must admit the connection becomes… tenuous.

One must wonder why the Order of Vitiate is convinced the Godhead is real.

We do not know. They have not shared.

Answers may only be found for those who enter their Order – or perhaps even more insidious deceptions. The Order is insular, their beliefs are opaque, and what is known often demands more questions than answers. Some Sith whisper with derision that the Order is more akin to a heretical Force cult than one that truly embodies the teachings and spirit of the Sith.

I am comfortable sharing such sentiments, not only because they exist among swathes of the Sith Collective, but because the Order of Vitiate stands aloof to these rumors, whispers, and accusations. Their devotion and service are not to those who do not adhere to their beliefs, and as far as they are concerned, all of us will be judged by the Godhead when it manifests and receive our due rewards.

To them, all that matters is that they serve the Godhead ceaselessly.

For one day, they will be rewarded for their toil with divinity.

ON THE MATTER OF ASCENSION

Within the Order of Vitiate, there is an ambition pursued by each of its members, from the lowest to the highest – the Ascension Ritual.

Unlike the perceived ambitions of the Order as a whole, the Ascension Ritual is something that is very real.

None outside the Order itself know what it truly entails, but its meaning is not hidden. Ascension is an honor bestowed upon only those who are the most worthy and devoted to the Godhead; their reward for loyal service.

It is one of the first promises made to the Supplicants – that those who are proper and devoted servants of the Godhead will be rewarded with Ascension.

Ascension, as it is explained by the Order, is the process of joining the collective entity that comprises the current incarnation of the Godhead – or at least that which will eventually manifest into the future incarnation. In essence, it rewards the devoted with a taste of the true divinity that those within the Order of Vitiate desire.

The skepticism you might feel now is one widely shared across the Collective.

There are many Sith who view the Ascension with outright confusion, doubt, and scorn. I confess to viewing such a practice, and those who willingly partake of it, in a rather negative way. It drastically deviates from many of the core tenants of the Sith – where their ultimate ambition is not to gain power, but to serve it.

All in the hope that when this prophesied entity manifests, you will be a part of it. Sundered of yourself; of the individuality you enjoyed.

One wonders what is gained in godhood if you lose yourself in the process.

A question I have no answer to, nor do I particularly understand. Yet my understanding is irrelevant, for this is what they believe, not I.

Some Sith whisper that the Ascension is a ruse that those who control the Order use to empower themselves and increase their lifespans. Some rumors suggest that the Ascension is a kind of essence transfer, where the masters of the Order take over the bodies of their subordinates. The shrouded and opaque nature of the entire ritual only heightens such speculation.

Nonsense.

Exercise discretion, and separate fact from rumor.

I cannot speak for the validity of the Ascension or the existence of the Godhead – but I can assure you that the Order of Vitiate believes it. This is not a vapid grift or method of control. It could have been, but the current incarnation the Order of Vitiate practices is not.

The idea that Supplicants are the only ones who undergo this ritual flies in the face of what we know for certain – that it is for the most worthy. Only the most powerful, veteran, and committed of the Order of Vitiate have ever been known to undergo the Ascension Ritual.

No one lesser than a Will or Embodiment – among the highest-ranking members in the Order – has been given such an honor. Each time it occurs it is a matter of reverence for the Order of Vitiate, many of whom attend in secret ceremonies where the ritual takes place. It is unknown if this is the place the ritual is performed, or serves a more ceremonial purpose.

However, one fact is clear – the Ascension is not done to everyone.

In truth, it is relatively rare. It is an ambition.

But while the general criteria concerning Ascension is known, it is a mystery as to what exactly it means for the individual. What does it mean to be truly devoted and loyal? What actions need to be performed? What sacrifices need be offered?

More importantly, how does the Order know for sure who is worthy, and who is not? For the Godhead has not yet manifested – or so they claim.

To provide a partial answer, it is always the Embodiment of the Godhead – the one who leads the Order of Vitiate – who makes the determination of who is worthy of Ascension. The Embodiment is seen as infallible, and therefore is not challenged.

For those who hold a higher skepticism on the entire process, one might wonder if it merely depends on the subjective view by the Embodiment – who themselves have sometimes declared their own worthiness for Ascension.

It may raise questions, reader. Questions that might be repulsive, or enticing, as to what the Ascension truly is.

No one except those who have undergone, or carry it out, know the truth. Perhaps they may currently have achieved divinity in a holy collective for the inevitable coming of the Godhead. That is the best-case scenario.

Perhaps they are simply dead.

Or perhaps, they are feeding the power of something stronger.

It is impossible to say for certain, but keep your mind sharp and focused, reader. The Order of Vitiate is suffused by secrets and questions, and while you may not believe them to concern the purported Godhead, it is not unlikely that there is a purpose to the Ascension Ritual that is significant.

Ponder what this might be as you continue learning.

ON THE NATHEMA RITUAL

Let us briefly return to a matter of debate and contention among Sith scholars and others who have attempted to answer this mystery – one that is foundational to Vitiate, and his successive Order.

The Nathema Ritual.

One might be confused as to the importance of such a question, or find it strange that there would be contention around what on the surface appears to be a patently obvious topic. It is an understandable perspective, but one steeped in ignorance – for those who insist on its irrelevance believe the Nathema Ritual was, for lack of a better word, conventional.

It is not.

The Nathema Ritual is unlike any Force ritual, by Sith or Jedi, ever performed – nor has it ever been truly replicated.

You’ve not heard of that detail before, have you?

The Nathema Ritual was foundational to the rise of Emperor Vitiate, and the method that many of the myths surrounding him claim he achieved his power from. It is hardly an impossible story, and often enough for those who hear it to move onto a more engaging aspect of Vitiate’s story.

The Sith Emperor is hardly the first Sith to have been empowered by the sacrifice of worlds and the consumption of millions of souls. Such is the inherent expectation and right of those who seek such power – in this, the assumed purpose of the Nathema Ritual is uncontroversial. Though the scale of it is vast in comparison to other efforts.

Often, rituals of such complexity and scale fail for one reason or another – but for the worthy few, they succeed and gain incomparable power. What differentiates Vitiate from other Sith who succeeded at such rituals? How was he different from Darth Nihilus, who fed upon Katarr and left a world where not even the bacteria survived? What separates him from Lady Vathila, whose own ritual of empowerment mimicked the very thing we discuss?

The aftermath, reader.

This aspect of the Nathema Ritual has not been discussed in detail.

It is time we do so.

Following his rise and assumption of the role of Emperor, Vitiate erased Nathema from all star charts, and killed anyone who had even tangential knowledge of the world – or expunged the memories of those he deemed valuable enough to let live.

Nathema was already an obscure world, despite the value of the sharu ruins, and only dedicated Sith scholars knew its name at all. The reasons Vitiate did this may appear obvious. Many assume it is because Vitiate did not want anyone investigating his rise, and to a degree, this is true.

There had been rumors within the Sith Empire surrounding a hidden world called Nathema, all tied to the Sith Emperor. More than a few claimed to have found Nathema and went to visit it looking for answers. Many had false information and found nothing, or never went at all – but a few vanished without a trace. Many believe they were killed by the Emperor.

I do not think so.

The Nathema Ritual was not a simple empowerment ritual. It was something… deeper. It disrupted something fundamental to the nature of the Force, and reality itself, as we understand.

Nathema is a world where the Force does not exist.

No, that does not go quite far enough.

It is a world where everything that steps on it is unmade. A world where life fundamentally cannot exist.

Do not mistake this for a wound in the Force. We know what Force wounds are, and while they are anomalous, what was done to Nathema was far more extensive and damaging than even Nihilus’s most extensive feast.

When I say life cannot exist on Nathema, I speak literally. There is no organic matter of any kind on Nathema today. It is a barren rock whose ruins stand in stark relief as tombstones of something that had once existed. Drones and machines are the only things which can be sent to the world safely.

Those who made the mistake of stepping foot on this unholy world are not so fortunate.

Force-users described the sheer agony of simply standing on this world where the Force was absent. Have you wondered what it would be like to have the Force stripped from you? One of your foundational senses gone? It is a torture that Jedi and Sith inflict as punishments for those considered their worst.

To live without the Force is a fate worse than death – yet this was different. To be severed from one’s connection to the Force is different from the Force not existing. And that is what the Sith on Nathema claim – that the Force was not blocked, it did not exist. It is as if, somehow, a fundamental aspect of reality was removed.

Gone.

Vanished.

The Force flows through all life – what happens when the Force does not exist?

Nothing can exist.

Thus, life does not exist on Nathema.

This process was recorded, in holograms and delirious writings, of individuals losing their ability to think and move almost immediately. Their bodies break out in scars and scabs; in hours it is as if they are infested with a wasting disease that is disintegrating their bodies. Their brains deteriorate until they are shambling madmen or comatose husks.

The Force-blind are equally ravaged. They describe a sensation like the smallest of razors peeling back the molecules of their skin. Of invisible forces that are acting to tear them apart. It is instantaneous from the moment they enter the planet’s atmosphere, and by the time they realize something’s wrong…

It is too late.

The only mercy is death.

Soon they resemble little more than slabs of raw meat in the approximate shape of their previous species. They are dead long before this point. Then they degenerate into sinews and bones, and eventually into nothing at all. There are no bodies on Nathema, because not even the smallest cell can live on it.

The Nathema Ritual is a true horror of the galaxy – a term that I do not use lightly.

Yet what else can this be called if not an abomination?

The Nathema Ritual has never been recreated. Even rituals that imitate, or are inspired by it fail to replicate the most destructive aspect of it – perhaps because they did not know, or because they realized what the ritual was, and refused to complete it.

What purpose does such a ritual serve? Many believed that it was how Vitiate achieved his power. It could just as easily be something else entirely.

Why would such a destructive ritual be created in the first place when others of more conventional methods exist, and could be built upon? That is the question no one knows the answer to – but it adds perspective on why there was such a major effort to stop Vitiate from conducting this ritual on other worlds – and why even Sith joined in the effort to stop the Emperor from inflicting more Nathemas on the galaxy.

These Sith were considered traitors and heretics. It might be worth reassessing why they felt so adamant that the Emperor must be stopped.

If they witnessed Nathema, I cannot say I don’t empathize.

There remain many questions on the Nathema Ritual, ones that will perhaps never be answered. The Order of Vitiate may know the truth, but even they appear wary of the ritual and have shown no interest or ability to recreate it.

I would recommend that you do not simply take my word for it, but investigate for yourself Nathema and the Ritual, for you may uncover something that I have not. I have learned what I wished to of this subject, and have little interest in pursuing it further. Such appears to only invite danger and misfortune.

It may be tempting to pursue this deeper, but this time I feel compelled to provide a warning. Study, research, and learn what you can – but do not go to Nathema.

Ignore this at your peril.

ON THE SUPPLICANTS TO THE GODHEAD

Everyone in the Order of Vitiate begins as a Supplicant.

One’s previous roles, authorities, powers, or perceived importance do not matter – everyone, without exception, begins at this lowest rank within the Order of Vitiate. The reasons for this revolve, as one might expect, around the necessary education and indoctrination one endures.

To serve in the Order of Vitiate demands a mindset and understanding that most Sith Orders eschew or outright oppose. There is no room for ambition, or dissent, or doubt in the Order of Vitiate. It often requires an unlearning of the virtues that we as Sith traditionally champion.

As one might expect, this is a process that does not end after an arbitrary time, but when it is deemed complete.

Some initiates do not take well to this process, and they stagnate in a fugue state between this indoctrination and their own resistance – or they are removed from the fold entirely. No one who enters the Order of Vitiate leaves. They will fully join the Order, or they will serve in other ways.

The Order of Vitiate does not hide this. It is made clear that only those who are committed will be welcome. Those who fail to meet these standards and expectations? It should not be a surprise what happens to them.

Thus, I caution those of you who may consider this Order. There is no going back once you have taken even a single step on this path.

This indefinite process can result in individuals who are Supplicants for years – in contrast, others may only be Supplicants for mere weeks or months. Such variance is fully at the whims of the Wills of the Godhead, and the Embodiment of the Godhead.

Their criteria are nebulous, subjective, and follows patterns that have not been divined by outsiders.

This is the path of a Supplicant, but they are more important than you might think.

You may think the Supplicants are the lowest position within the Order – and technically, you would be correct. However, they are not worthless, useless fodder that the Order mistreats or abuses out of a display of power. No, the Order of Vitiate is more sophisticated than these base displays of authority over their lessers.

Each Supplicant has their aptitudes and skills which are assessed, and then utilized. Mathematics. Biology. Force studies. Engineering. Writing. These talents are not merely logged and analyzed – they are actively developed to better serve the Order.

Supplicants comprise the largest number of members within the Order of Vitiate, and by this virtue they subsequently perform much of the ‘work’ the Order does. Research, labor, field work. The Supplicants are the backbone of the Order of Vitiate, without whom the Order would be unable to truly function.

You may find that many of the scientists, engineers, and scholars within the Order are Supplicants. I stress that you should not assume their rank is indicative of their intelligence, capability, or even importance. They may lack authority, but they do not lack competence.

And each of them is continually looking to refine and improve their skills to better serve the mission of the Order. It is by no means a position devoid of importance or meaning, and indeed, combined with their indoctrination, Supplicants are eager to apply their talents to an important mission.

But make no mistake, reader. This is part of a larger, insidious process intended to indoctrinate, first and foremost. Only once you satisfy the nebulous requirements of the Order may you be allowed to rise into a position of authority.

You may read this, and consider what I write to be construed as a warning, or at least biased against the Order of Vitiate. You may believe this unbefitting of my role; an attempt to color your perceptions.

Perhaps. I cannot hide my biases, nor will I censor the truth of what this process is. To me, this is anathema to what it means to be Sith. I will not pretend otherwise under a feigned blanket of neutrality.

You possess intelligence, reader. You possess a mind capable of making critical judgments. If you doubt what I say, seek out knowledge for yourself and affirm or refute my words. My role is only to advise and educate.

Your path is ultimately yours to walk.

Let us continue.

ON THE SCYTHES OF THE GODHEAD

Within the Order of Emperor Vitiate you will find certain warriors accompanying individuals of note within the Order – as well as those deemed worthy allies. The common attire of many members of the Order of Vitiate is muted – as such, these individuals stand out.

One might initially mistake them for monks, though only in garb. Red and white are their colors, an irregular choice compared to the grays and blacks most members of the Order prefer. Hoods shadow their faces, their arms are often bared, and flowing capes fall past their shoulders. Simplicity is their hallmark, with only their bracers and portions of their boots being laced with cortosis.

However, it is their weapons which are distinctive. They resemble polearms, glaives, and other long bladed weapons – though with a design that is alien to the modern eye, and superficially resembles ceremonial weapons of long-dead civilizations that include the kwa, rakata, and sharu – though of course made to be wielded by less alien hands. It is the one expression of individuality you will find within the Scythes of the Godhead, as each one forges their weapon by hand, customizing the grip and length to their needs.

From this description, you can imagine the style that these warriors prefer, one that prioritizes mobility over raw strength. Speed over power. Technique over technologies. They are faster than you may imagine, reader. Far faster than any mortal should be physically capable of, yet defy convention they do.

Their fighting style is as unusual as their weapons, one that appears tailored to duel Force-users, yet is not derived from Makashi or other dueling martial forms. This is partially to do with the weapon itself, which is designed in such a way as to hook and trap a traditional lightsaber blade. Should this be accomplished, all the wielder needs to do is apply force at a certain angle, and tear it from their opponent’s hands.

I assure you, this is a skill the Scythes regularly practice. Some Sith are skeptical of their speed, and scoff at the idea that they could fall prey to it. They are often humbled within the first few strikes.

It is sometimes necessary to be humbled, reader. Those who go too long without challenge grow conceited and arrogant, and are the first to fall when they face a true challenge. I would encourage you to test your mettle – for if you are to find your skills have limits, better now than at the hands of a Jedi.

But you may be asking who these warriors are?

The Scythes of the Godhead are where the Force-blind are placed within the Order of Vitiate. The Order indeed employs the Force-blind, just as Emperor Vitiate employed them within the Imperial Guard.

It is believed, though not confirmed, that the Scythes function in a similar way to the Imperial Guard, where their souls are bound to a certain individual – most certainly the Embodiment in the case of the Order – rendering them incapable of betrayal. The Imperial Guard could channel a portion of their Vitiate’s power, allowing them to surpass mortal limitations – something to bear in mind, should rumors about the Scythes prove true.

The Scythes function as a mixture of bodyguard and operative within the Order. There are a fair number of them, and there are always several accompanying both the Wills and the Embodiment. Unlike Vitiate, who retained them in a specific role, the Order employs them in a wider capacity.

Instead of sending others in the Order to places that may hold risk or danger, the Scythes will be sent instead to infiltrate, scout, or in some cases, secure a location before others follow. When the Collective asks for warriors, it is often the Scythes that the Order of Vitiate provides. This is by no means an insult – the Scythes have proven their capability time and again.

Do not underestimate these individuals – each one is more than they present themselves. Just as their namesake cuts through fields of produce effortlessly, so too can a Scythe cleave through the enemies of the Order of Vitiate. Ignore this fact at your peril.

ON THE VESSELS OF THE GODHEAD

If one has spent time around the Order of Vitiate, they will doubtless notice the cloaked figures who wear featureless masks over their faces. One can find them accompanying various members of the Order, and performing simple or routine tasks on their behalf.

If one is observant, they will notice that these figures even follow the instructions of Supplicants. You may wonder who these individuals are, but it is perhaps better to not think of them as individuals, but reminiscent of a tool or drone.

These are the Vessels of the Godhead. The nameless, faceless, and enslaved individuals who have become less than nothing. To be a Vessel is a condemnation of the worst kind; a punishment that the Order reserves for only those who have failed utterly, or those who they deem their enemies.

The Vessels do not speak. It is unknown if they are rendered incapable of speech, or if they hold their tongues for fear of further punishment. Failed Supplicants, deserters, traitors, and enemies fill their ranks – denied death and forced into service. While you will see no shackles on their bodies, be assured that these bonds are present.

Little is known about the Vessels other than they are completely subservient and loyal to the Order of Vitiate. They are employed in whatever capacity is deemed needed, primarily as assistants or labor – though even they are not used frivolously. The Order will not employ them in dangerous situations, for even the Vessels are more useful alive than expended.

It has been hypothesized that these bodies no longer possess their previous occupants, but have instantaneously become extensions of higher-ranking members of the Order, such as the Wills of the Godhead, or even the Embodiment.

It is not without possibility. The Vessels have been observed moving in stiff, unusual ways, as if they are not used to their own bodies, which is a sign of a partial or inexperienced active possession. This disturbing display is not universal among the Vessels, but it is something I have observed; something which I believe is worth noting.

One might wonder if it is a punishment if the original occupant is banished, effectively an elaborate execution – but I will reiterate we do not know if this is the case. It is entirely possible; likely even, that these Vessels are fully aware of their state, but are helpless to change it.

These are not true members – but symbols for what happens to those who fail to meet the Order’s expectations – or make an enemy of the Order. They are best avoided, though do not let their appearance or demeanor alarm you.

They are mere tools now. Nothing more. Nothing less.

ON THE MOUTHS OF THE GODHEAD

Amongst the retinue of the Order of Vitiate, you will find blindfolded individuals, wearing simple red robes and who are often as silent as the Vessels. Though unlike the Vessels, you will notice that each of them is treated with a gravity and reverence that is atypical of members of the Order.

These are the Mouths of the Godhead, who only speak when it is on ‘behalf’ of the Godhead. They are considered akin to divine messengers or prophets, and each word is followed to the letter, as it is treated as coming from the Godhead itself.

What exactly the Mouths of the Godhead are is a matter of some speculation. It is unclear how much free will they possess, or the nature of their contact with the Godhead – who has yet to fully manifest. Nor is it immediately apparent if this role is different from the Embodiment of the Godhead, for who should speak for the Godhead, if not the Embodiment?

The Order of Vitiate has not bothered to explain the necessity of this role, and it is generally accepted that each of these Mouths are bound to the Embodiment of the Godhead in some capacity, very likely allowing the Embodiment to speak through them across distances, irrespective of technological means.

Not once have the words of the Mouths and the Embodiment been in conflict, lending credence to this theory, one that I would posit is all but confirmed, even if the Order steadfastly refuses to elaborate on these questions.

Outside of their deliberate muteness, the Voices otherwise appear mortal. They eat, they sleep, and they carry out tasks only known to themselves. Sometimes they are Force-users, sometimes they are not. It does not affect their roles.

Yet when they speak, it is with a voice that carries undertones of authority. An almost certain confirmation of the fact they are mere vessels for another’s words.

Of course, you may assume this to be the Embodiment speaking through them, as many do. It is the logical expectation, and yet I have been present when a Mouth has spoken. The voice that emerged from it was… unexpected. It was not the power in the voice that caught my attention, but how it spoke.

I would almost call it a dialect; an unusual way of speaking a language I knew, which was both fluent and disruptive. Words in unexpected orders; sentences constructed strangely. It was comprehensible, but it was…

I have pondered how best to describe it. Alien. Unusual. It did not speak like the Embodiment. Nor did it speak like anything I have heard before. It was enough to make me wonder if the Mouths are not speaking the will of the Embodiment, but something else.

I have no evidence for this. If such is the case, I would expect the Order is very aware of it, though such would raise significant questions about what exactly the Order of Vitiate has discovered. The implications I leave you to ponder, reader. If you are so fortunate to hear a Voice speak, you will understand why I write this.

Treat these individuals as if they were the Embodiment, for as far as the Order is concerned, that is exactly what they represent.

ON THE WILL OF THE GODHEAD

Each Order possesses a unique leadership cadre or inner circle, and the Order of Vitiate is no exception. If anything, in comparison to their peers, the Will of the Godhead possesses and executes significant authority within the Order – and arguably holds more power than even the Embodiment in certain respects.

The exact number of the Wills of the Godhead is unknown, but very few – believed to be no more than two dozen. Yet these Sith are easily among the most powerful in the Order of Vitiate, and indeed, the Collective as a whole.

They, more than anyone else, are responsible for overseeing and executing the missions, interests, and objectives of the Order of Vitiate.

It is they who set the standards for each position, and act as judges for the performance or failure of each Supplicant. They alone decide if a Supplicant has performed to their standards, and where they will be placed within the Order. It is the Wills who have shaped the Order into what it is today; a small hand that has carved such a flawless yet inscrutable machine.

To our knowledge, only a small number of these individuals have undergone the Ascension Ritual, and each of those who did were old, and at risk of death from natural causes. Their estimated numbers have only slightly grown compared to their earlier days, though this is impossible to know for certain, as the number of Wills is not disclosed.

They are easy to notice, despite their subdued attire, which does not differ overmuch from simple Sith robes. Each of them has a presence that is tangible, and which only the most powerful Sith are able to cultivate. It is similar to Darth Timoris, though not quite as intense and overpowering.

They rarely interact outside the Order, but when they do, you will find them highly precise and stilted in their language – they appear to dislike such interactions. No word is wasted, though they have a certain way of speaking which I find notable in its uniformity across species and gender.

Each of them is deeply learned in the ways of the Force, and tend to eschew lightsabers in favor of utilizing the Force itself, to include sorceries and the more esoteric arts of the Sith – even though they rarely leave on expeditions with other Sith. Those who have done so tend to travel to places typical of scholars – such as the ruins of Sith, Jedi, and precursor species to unearth primordial secrets and power.

Additionally, it is believed that the Wills are the ones who carry out the Ascension Ritual, as there are few others of comparable power or skill to perform what is believed to be a complex ritual.

Their name also implies a certain connection to the perceived Godhead, or its Embodiment – though you will not be surprised to learn that the Wills have not been forthcoming as to the specifics of this position.

Treat them with respect and caution should you encounter them. Of all the positions within this Order, it is undoubtedly the Will of the Godhead who possesses the most autonomy – and power.

Though I would not fear such an encounter – the Wills seem quite content to eschew such interactions with the outside world, to a degree that may be worth pondering.

ON THE EMBODIMENT OF THE GODHEAD

The nominal leader of the Order of Vitiate holds the position of the Embodiment of the Godhead.

I trust that you can ascertain the importance of this role by the title alone, reader – but it is not quite what you might expect.

It might be expected that the Embodiment is drawn from the best of the Order of Vitiate; those who have proven their skill, power, and loyalty to the Order. The Embodiment is viewed with a reverence and obedience that not even the Wills evoke, and which the Mouths only emulate.

The Embodiment is not like other members of the Order. They act, speak, and interact in a manner distinct from all others in the Order. Perhaps what is most surprising is that the Embodiment serves for only a period of time before they undergo the Ascension Ritual.

Each one is powerful beyond compare. Were it not for the incredible power that Lady Vathila commands, they alone would be the strongest individual users of the Force within the Sith Collective. They have demonstrated an unparalleled understanding of the Force, able to shape and employ it in novel ways, and with such ease it is second-nature.

It is said that the Force itself bends around them. There is only some slight exaggeration here, reader, but understand that they have few peers.

They are true savants of the Force, each and every one of them. Perhaps even more impressive is that they can rise from mere Supplicants, who are often skilled, yes, but lack the power the Embodiment instinctively commands. Embodiments have their own interests and preferences when it comes to wielding this power, but you would be hard-pressed to find a discipline of the Force they are incapable of proficiently employing.

Many a Sith has been humbled when they attempt to demonstrate their superiority, be it in knowledge or power of the Force – only for the Embodiment to show how little they know, or how limited their skills extend.

The Collective has learned to respect the Embodiments as a whole, and no matter their methods or loyalties, it is undeniable that they are true masters worthy of respect and caution.

I return to something I posed at the beginning of this section – a presumption that the Embodiments are drawn from the best of the Order. In a way, they are, but they are not drawn from the Wills or any other established branch of the Order.

Like all positions within the Order, with the exception of the Vessels, the Embodiment is drawn from the base pool of Supplicants. While the Embodiment is selected by the Wills of the Godhead, and with the approval of the previous Embodiment, the successor is always a mere Supplicant.

The reason for why the holder of such a prestigious and important role is drawn from the lowest ranks is unknown, yet there has never been a break with this practice. This is an admittedly appealing aspect to the Order, and a reason why many are willing to strip themselves to nothing; to devote themselves to this philosophy, for the chance of achieving such a position.

It is possible. Yet no one knows the specific criteria by which the Embodiment is selected.

Embodiments have been drawn from multiple species, from every gender, and from the young and old alike. And each of them, without exception, become changed upon ascending to the position.

I have spoken with several Embodiments throughout my life, and what I find striking is that despite their differing ages, species, and genders, their personalities and quirks held similarities and repeating patterns. It was not as if I was speaking to three different individuals, but the same person in three different bodies.

It is also the case that they often do not start like this – but rather they quickly morph into it. There is a period where a new Embodiment will appear to speak and act similar to who they were before this ascension – but within a short period of time, no more than a year, this will dissipate.

I am far from the only one to note this phenomenon. Others have made similar comments, and has led to the theory of what, exactly, the Embodiment is. Many believe that it is a growing collection of minds, or a variant result of an essence transfer. That would be the rational, understandable answer.

I am not convinced that is the case.

These personality traits they express are alien in a way that transcends species or gender. They speak in a cadence and pattern that strikes my ears as irregular, despite the fluency of their words. They move in controlled motions that could be described as robotic. They will express emotion, but it is irregular, and they occasionally have an air of aloof, quiet mockery, as if they know something no one else does.

Parts of this are echoed in the Wills, but it is most noticeable within the Embodiment.

However, I will acknowledge that there are aspects that cast doubt on my own skepticism. While there are similarities in mannerisms, they do not forget who they were before. They recall their names, pasts, and histories. There are rhetorical differences between the Embodiments.

To speak with one is an unusual experience, but one that may only affect you if you make an effort to understand them beforehand. For those who are ignorant of the Order, or never interacted with an Embodiment, such is far less noticeable.

Perhaps you will have a different outlook to my own.

Unlike other Orders, the Embodiments do not have a set period of service before they undergo the Ascension Ritual. Oftentimes their tenures are short, many lasting no longer than a decade, though others have lasted far longer. As a result, there have been many Embodiments in the Order’s history, yet few have managed to truly distinguish themselves.

I expect most are content with this fact.

The reason for this high and simultaneously predictable turnover is unknown – though there is speculation that it may have something to do with the ritual one undergoes when they become an Embodiment.

This power and knowledge they command, it almost certainly has a price. Perhaps they are merely allowed to burn bright, before their expiration.

To this day, the Embodiment sits as the Councilor of the Order of Emperor Vitiate within the High Council of the Sith Collective. Treat these individuals with the appropriate respect – they are more powerful and intelligent than you are – and will not take kindly to unprompted interest or mockery.

ON THE DEVOTED OF THE GODHEAD

Unlike previous sections, I am afraid that this one will be comprised of a mixture of speculation, rumor, and implication. You may scoff at the inclusion of such a section at all, yet I believe that the evidence for this particular aspect of the Order of Vitiate existing is sufficient to warrant it.

As always, reader, you can be the judge. Feel free to move past this section if you would not waste your time.

Now, let’s continue.

The Devoted of the Godhead are not an acknowledged part of the Order of Vitiate. If one asks their members about the Devoted, they will either refuse to answer, or claim ignorance. It is likely that this ignorance is not feigned, and that only a few within the Order know the truth, let alone the details.

I find it notable that those with authority refuse to answer such a question, rather than provide the denials a Supplicant would. Though none of this answers the first question that comes to your mind – who are these Devoted?

In short, the Devoted of the Godhead are believed to be the successors to the Children of the Emperor.

Those who have spent time working with the Order of Vitiate have sometimes noticed individuals among their ranks who appear out-of-place. Individuals lacking the attire typical of members, yet closely attended to by them. Individuals who appear in a state of apathy or fugue, following orders, or otherwise not questioning instructions from their escorts. They are often seen with strange objects in their hands, which they keep with them at all times.

They only stay for days at most before disappearing entirely, never to be seen again. Some have the Force. Many do not. Some have claimed that their faces are familiar – entertainment personalities, politicians, sometimes even Jedi.

Such rumors spread through the ranks of Apprentices.

Lies travel fast, reader. I would be cautious in putting stock in many of these rumors. They may lead to false expectations or disappointment. To my knowledge, such claims have not been corroborated, and I suspect that if a truly important person – especially a Jedi – were to vanish and reappear later, it would leave the entire Sith Collective open to exposure.

The Jedi have ways of detecting such methods, and it only requires one unmasking for the whole charade to be undone. No, I do not believe the Order of Vitiate is so bold as to be conducting such operations.

What is far more likely is that the Order of Vitiate is abducting, recruiting, or converting various individuals in the galaxy to the Godhead. Individuals who are nameless and insignificant. Individuals who do not matter, and are merely faces in a crowd. Those who can disappear, and not be missed.

The Order of Vitiate takes these individuals, converts them, and as it was with the Children of the Emperor, returns them to the galaxy to serve as sleeper agents – to spy, report, or perhaps act when the time is right.

Once I asked a Supplicant who these strange individuals were, and she answered they were the ‘Devoted.’ In lieu of a more accurate name, that is how I have elected to refer to them, following the conventions utilized by the Order of Vitiate.

One can speculate what this means, or what the Supplicants are told. It may mean they are bound to the Embodiment or the Wills of the Godhead. Or perhaps it refers to their mission; to be devoted despite being in the heart of the enemy.

One wonders how far the hidden hand of the Order of Vitiate extends. While they may refuse to acknowledge the Devoted, it is clear there are many in the galaxy who are knowingly – or unknowingly – serving their interests.

I would expect that the High Council knows more of this group, and I’m certain Lady Vathila is not ignorant of their role. Perhaps this knowledge is a privilege that I do not possess, yet one day you might, reader.

Until the truth is revealed, this is all I can provide.

How the Order will utilize the Devoted when the time comes remains to be seen, but I suspect that they were not chosen at random. Be aware that these individuals exist, reader, and that they serve the Order of Vitiate first and foremost.

Be cautious assuming they serve the greater interests of the Sith.

The Jedi will not be around forever, and when our blades are raised in victory, there would be no better time for the knives to plunge into backs.

Take nothing for granted, and make no assumptions. Especially when they concern the unknown.

ON THE TRUE GODHEAD

There is one final position within the Order of Vitiate that has remained unfilled by design – the True Godhead.

As the philosophy of the Godhead has outlined, the purpose of the Order of Vitiate is to accelerate the manifestation of the Godhead from an indeterminate point in the future. It is to execute a self-fulfilling future, by which the Godhead is brought forward to bring its authority to the universe.

If what the Order claims is accurate, the True Godhead will be impossible to stop should it manifest. All things will bend to their will – time, space, and the Force itself. They offer no explanation for how this is possible, only that the True Godhead is all-powerful, and divine in every aspect of the word.

What is the Godhead as an entity?

This will be speculative, but I posit some possibilities based on what is known of the Order and their philosophy. The first is that the Godhead is a primordial Force entity that is drawn from the Netherrealm – perhaps one that is actively reaching out to them. One could argue that this is a – or the – living embodiment of the Force itself. Such an entity could meet the nebulous criteria the Order expects from the Godhead – though there are reasons to be skeptical.

Chiefly, that there is no evidence of such entities existing in the Netherrealm. While spirits may influence and affect corporeal space, each of them was once alive. Despite the passing of eons of galactic history, why has there been nothing in the Netherrealm that has exhibited such behaviors before now?

Perhaps this is intended to be an artificial entity by the Order of Vitiate – one they must create themselves to properly manifest, but such a proposal seems unlikely, if not outright impossible to achieve.

Another theory posits that the Order of Vitiate seeks to return a Celestial to corporeal reality. Little is known about these entities, outside of the fact that they existed before all recorded life in the universe, and supposedly had the ability to control and influence fundamental laws of reality.

Some say that the Celestials never existed, and are merely a creation myth. No, this I will dispute. We hardly know anything of the Celestials, but we do know they existed, and their influence on the galaxy is clear to those who look at the mysteries of the cosmos. I will cite a contemporary example – the Corell System. A near-impossible thing to occur naturally, and all credible scholars agree it was created artificially.

Corell is not the only artificial system, it is only the most famous. There are others, in the Unknown Regions. There are cosmic phenomena that remain inexplicable. There are places like the Maw which no rational mind will believe is natural, much less the fact that the galaxy itself has a third that is dark – yet continues to function as though the gravity of those systems and stars still exists.

They may not have called themselves ‘Celestials,’ but they who would deny their existence, deny the evidence science has produced.

Any civilization with such capabilities would be rightly defined as godlike – yet what none have been able to explain is why the Celestials are gone. It is a question I have asked myself.

It is possible that the Order believes they will return, or that they are central to why they will return. Though this explanation has its own problems. The Celestials are not an unknown subject – why obscure the truth through terms like the Godhead?

The final theory I will posit is that the Godhead is a gestalt intellect of a certain definition, one that is in its incubation stages. One that, once it reaches a critical mass, will be able to conceive and accomplish things otherwise impossible.

This reinforces the idea that each of the Embodiments, are, in reality, the primordial incarnation of the ‘present’ Godhead, and the purpose of the Ascension Ritual is to add additional knowledge, capacity, and power to the Embodiment – one that will increase exponentially until the Godhead emerges.

A cognitive singularity, if such a term exists.

I know of no ritual or process by which this can be done without consequence, nor have I heard of such an idea being even experimented with, let alone achieved successfully. Lord Interitus displays no signs of being under the sway of other spirits, nor has the personality of the Embodiment seemed to overtly change.

There is no perfect theory, and I can find evidence and flaws for each of the ones I have proposed. Each are plausible, and I keep an open mind to the possibilities. You should do the same.

The Order believes that the True Godhead was almost manifested once – by Emperor Vitiate. They believe that Vitiate’s retreat during the invasion of the Eternal Empire forced him to attempt the manifestation prematurely, but he was stopped by both Valkorian and Eskevar.

Such is their belief. Without Vitiate indicating what his intentions or plans were, it is impossible to say for certain. Nonetheless, to the Order, this narrative serves as proof that the True Godhead can be manifested by their own efforts.

There is skepticism within the Collective on if the Order of Vitiate – at least those who hold sway in it – truly believe in the Godhead, or if it is ultimately a means of manipulation and control. You will find opinions sharply divided on the question, and subsequently, the Order of Vitiate as a whole.

I have spent much time speaking to them, researching to the best of my ability, and I can speak confidently to my own view.

I am certain they believe it.

Their philosophy is one that I cannot understand or approve of – but this is not an example of deception and grift to exploit the gullible. Each of them, from the Supplicant to the Embodiment, is a true believer in the Philosophy of the Godhead.

My argument is not convincing for many, but I believe that anyone who spends even some time amongst the Order will quickly see that this is no collection of liars. For better or worse, they believe in the Godhead, and have devoted themselves to serving this silent, distant, divine entity.

Until the day the Godhead emerges, they maintain this symbolic position for their coming.

I once asked one of the Wills how, if the True Godhead emerges, will they know for sure it is the one? He smiled at me, and his answer has remained in my mind since that day.

“From furthest edges of the Unknown Regions, to the deepest levels of Coruscant, all will know when the True Godhead manifests. All will know.”

ON LORD INTERITUS, EMBODIMENT OF THE GODHEAD

Let us speak of the current Embodiment of the Godhead, and nominal leader of the Order of Emperor Vitiate – Lord Interitus.

He is a man of awe and renown. From his appearance alone you become aware that this is an individual who is both powerful and wise. The fur of this cathar has turned silver with age, but his mane still falls to his shoulders and from his chin. One might see him as a regal figure, a wizened elder, and perhaps even a stereotypical scholar.

It is not wholly inaccurate.

Interitus’s life has been a winding and exploratory one; defying conventions and expectations. Some would call him a former Jedi, as he originally came from the Sphere of Exploration and Discovery, exploring the frontiers of the galaxy that exposed him to ideas and the unknowns of the galaxy more intimately than many other Jedi.

Interitus had a different name then, one that he has since abandoned. He had always been fascinated by the unknown, and the lost, fallen, or elusive empires and cultures of old. He had the heart of an archeologist and scholar, and his education was so extensive that he could contend with academic specialists despite lacking credentials or formal titles.

You might be detecting a hint of dangerous curiosity; something the Jedi quickly snuff out.

They attempted to do so, first recalling him from his assignment, and when he questioned why, they offered only warnings and platitudes. They dismissed, ignored, or dogmatically refuted the questions that he had raised on the nature of the Force, light and dark alike.

It is ironic. They feared the young Jedi falling to the dark side, while Interitus was less interested in the aspects of the Force, as he was about its underlying nature. Not the light. Nor the dark. He wished to explore the power inherent in the Force.

The Jedi had no place in the Order for such nuanced questions. They had become an obstacle in his journey of self-discovery. So he did the only rational thing for a man in his position.

He left.

This was decades ago. He was a young man when he left to wander the fringes of the galaxy, where he remained for decades more.

He was a curious sight. An aging cathar seemingly out-of-place, even as he retained his skill and power in the Force, all while attempting to divine its secrets. He spent time among many fringe Force-using sects across the galaxy. It is believed that he traveled from Dathomir to the Quabular worlds. That he met the Luka Sene and the voss. Some even speculate he sought out the Whills – though it is difficult to verify any of these claims.

It was perhaps only a matter of time before he was noticed by our Collective, and contact was established. As an individual who prized knowledge above dogma, he was more than interested in learning from the Sith, for perhaps we had answers that had eluded him.

Many wondered what Order Interitus would find himself drawn to, for all of them wanted an individual of such talent, drive, and power – but to the admitted surprise of many, he entered the Order of Vitiate as a Supplicant after speaking with the Embodiment of the Godhead at the time.

He found the Philosophy of the Godhead enrapturing, and perhaps the answer to the questions he had held about the universe. Or perhaps he found it holding the most potential for such answers. No matter the personal motivation, Interitus took his Sith name when he became a Supplicant, and fully devoted himself to the Order.

It took only a short time before he was noticed by the Wills of the Godhead – and then selected to be the next Embodiment of the Godhead.

No one had anticipated such an outcome – the Embodiments are always drawn from the Supplicants, of course, but never had it happened in such a short time. Interitus had demonstrated admirable commitment, but to go from such a low position to Embodiment was an unprecedented one.

Yet there were factors working in his favor. Beyond his exceptional power, and his commitment to the Order, Interitus was hardly a stranger to leadership, having operated within the Jedi for many years prior and spending time among numerous different groups – small and large alike. His age also carried with him a wealth of experiences and insights, not covering his extensive academic pursuits.

Neither the Wills nor the previous Embodiment shared their criteria or reason for his selection – they had no reason to – but the wider Collective certainly found it an interesting, and strange, choice.

Lord Interitus has served as the Embodiment of the Godhead for several years now; leading and guiding it in a way we can only assume is satisfactory for the Wills, and the purported Godhead. Like other Embodiments, he has experienced a shift in personality upon assuming the position.

He was an astute, reserved figure who maintained a scholarly demeanor to his colleagues and subordinates. As Embodiment, he has been more open to expressing a certain kind of humor, often at the expense of his colleagues on the High Council – as if he is in on a joke, or part of a game they do not see. The Embodiment has always possessed a strange humor, something that Interitus appears to be continuing.

He possesses a clear confidence in his abilities and vision, and of all of the Councilors, he is the one most likely to hold dissenting or contrarian opinions. He does this knowing it may raise the ire of others – particularly Lady Vathila – yet the placation of his colleagues is irrelevant, for his role is to see the interests of the Order of Vitiate met.

This is not completely unexpected. The Embodiment has always been one who is most likely to dissent from the consensus, even one endorsed by Lady Vathila. Lord Interitus is not different in this regard, for better or worse.

Interitus today is a figure of intelligence and power, whose abilities and knowledge have few rivals in the Collective. One can only speculate as to the full extent of his abilities, which have quickly grown to match his predecessors. Every Sith, my Lady included, treats him with respect – and in a way, this is a fitting legacy for the Order of Emperor Vitiate.

The Embodiment, and Lord Interitus, have always served as a reminder to the other Councilors of their own wariness concerning the Order, and the ultimate ambitions of those who lead it. It appears clear that when the Jedi are destroyed, and the galaxy is left for the Sith to claim, that the agreement between the Order of Emperor Vitiate and the Sith Collective will end.

It is inevitable – and one only need look at Lord Interitus to see this.

Never forget this, reader. Nor be surprised when it occurs.

Remember that we are Sith, and when the future is ours to claim…

There will only be one victor.

ON RELATIONS WITH THE OTHER ORDERS

You might wonder how the rest of our Collective sees this irregular, esoteric, alien interpretation of Sith doctrine and tradition – if such truly applies to an Order that shuns so much of the familiar.

I have made my own views no secret, and have mentioned that many others feel the same way – but it is worth briefly addressing this topic directly.

It would be a mistake to claim that the Order of Emperor Vitiate has many relations with their peers in the Collective – either good or bad. They are content to remain on the fringes; an Order that will assist when called upon, but will not be proactive in cultivating ties and alliances – nor making enemies without reason.

It is a matter of debate for some. For many believe that when the Jedi are defeated, the Order of Vitiate will not waste time in making their claim as the only rightful heirs of Sith dominion – yet even those who anticipate our necessary fracture have drawn lines, cultivated alliances, and laid the groundwork for a post-victory galaxy.

The Order of Vitiate has not done this.

Would they align themselves with another Order if offered? Perhaps. They may consider it in their interest. Yet they have not sought this out; such things do not even appear to be worth considering at all.

Is it arrogance or apathy that drives their distance from their peers? Do they believe themselves so capable that they do not need to engage in such power plays and schemes?

Perhaps. All I can offer is speculation and the limited insights of my own interactions with this insular Order. Yet considering what they espouse, I do not think it unlikely that they truly believe such conventional means of preparation are… unnecessary.

Time will tell if they are right.

While it would be a lie to say that there are no Sith who are interested in a stronger alliance between them and the Order of Vitiate, the majority are largely content to keep their distance. An Order that must be respected, but cannot be trusted. An Order that can be relied upon to act in the greater interest, but only if that interest pertains to our sworn foe.

An Order that cloaks itself in the names and philosophies of the Sith, but hides something alien underneath.

The Order of Emperor Vitiate does not have any true rivals or enemies, but not even they would claim to have friends or allies among their peers. It is a state of affairs that everyone, to include the Order of Vitiate itself, is content with.

CONCLUSION

I believe that is a sufficient summarization.

I expect that you still have questions, and a myriad of feelings following what you have learned. I have learned better than to assume, for I have experienced a myriad of reactions. The Order of Vitiate often is polarizing in how it is perceived – but now at least you possess an accurate foundation to base your views on.

It is curious, though not unexpected, how one only gains strong feelings on the Order when they take the time to learn it. Prior to such a step, they only see the surface. They tangentially know the Order of Vitiate, or Vitiate himself, and assume the Sith within are like other Orders.

You understand now how… shallow… such a perspective is.

I have not hidden my own perspective, even as I have strived to provide a comprehensive overview based on what we do know. There is much about the Order of Vitiate I question, both from the perspective of a Sith, and an outsider.

Some would doubtless prefer that I refrain from providing my own perspective, and instead present the facts as they exist. By now, reader, you should see the flaw in such an approach, for when it comes to Vitiate, and the Order in his name, there is no single, objective source, out of the few that exist.

You are welcome to dispute my analysis and perspective. Many do. Yet I believe it important to emphasize this perspective, lest Sith be led down a path they do not fully grasp. The Sith of Vitiate are alien even amongst us, who should be their kin.

They are opaque, mysterious, and utterly devoted to concepts and promises foreign to us. All things that we as Sith would normally scoff at, yet for them, we make an exception, even as I acknowledge that there is a degree of complexity that is often absent.

Despite their submission to their prophesized entity, those within the Order of Vitiate are not simple servants. They are individuals of power, who possess knowledge, wisdom, and insight that matches or exceeds that of other Sith Orders. That is what allows them to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those in our Collective.

They have earned their place among us. My concerns, disputes, and issues with them individually or philosophically are immaterial in comparison. Any discomfort or disconcertion we might feel around them or their ideas does not change these facts – nor have they displayed anything except steadfast loyalty to the Sith Collective, and Lady Vathila.

This is my perspective. You may share it, or you may not.

Perhaps you read my words, and had your curiosity piqued. Perhaps a path has been revealed to you that was previously hidden. I cannot make assumptions about you, reader – but I trust that I have conveyed the necessary information to those who find themselves wishing to know more about this esoteric philosophy.

That is normally sufficient, yet I will once more stress caution.

The Order of Emperor Vitiate is not like the other Sith Orders. It is one I would ensure that you know what you are getting into before taking a step on a path you will not be able to turn away from. They may be able to offer you what you have always wanted – but before accepting, make sure you are willing to pay their price.

Because once you step on the path towards the divinity they offer, there is no going back.

Walk your path, reader, and tread carefully.

The choice is yours alone to make.