"Onderon Campus: Sith Core"
I-Introduction
The Sith are the oldest, most well known Dark Side order. When people think of the Dark Side, they invariably think of the Sith. The Sith have had a great impact on the galaxy as a whole, and most certainly within the Brotherhood. Ultimate leadership of the Brotherhood, in the form of the Grandmaster, falls to the Sith. This course will touch on the history of the order, it will explains what makes a Sith a Sith, and it will explain the important role the Sith play in the Brotherhood.
II-History of the Order
The history of the Sith outside of the Brotherhood is very extensive and it is better covered in the History of the Sith Empire courses offered at the Shadow Academy. You are expected to be familiar with what is discussed in those courses, though this course will not go into nearly as much detail as those. For the purposes of this course, you should become familiar with Exar Kun, Darth Revan, Darth Bane, Okemi, the Triumvirate of Traya, Nihilus and Sion, and Darth Sidious. Anyone just mentioned is a valid target for the exam, though not all may appear there. You will be responsible for any information about these Lords and their actions on your own. Sources such as the three History of the Sith Empire course notes will likely be helpful.
It should be briefly noted that the Sith race no longer exists. Over the years, the Sith people interbred with the exiled Jedi. “Sith” is now a term for the group as a whole, not any race.
The only Sith Lord not mentioned in the three Sith Empire courses is Okemi, but this is for a good reason. Okemi is not well known in the greater historical context largely because he was exiled from the larger Sith movement. Okemi, believing that the Sith should attack the Republic, rose up against Marka Ragnos. Defeated, Okemi temporarily accepted his exile, but he took with him followers and he fought both his former allies and the Republic. Legend also says that Okemi, for some reason, led the Republic to Ziost, allowing them to defeat the Sith Empire. If this is true (and all legends have at least some truth to them), Okemi may simply have been following the precepts of the Sith: believing the other Sith to be weaker, he devised a plan to eliminate them.
Okemi himself was not killed by the Old Republic or the other Sith. Instead, Okemi went on to join Taimat and Ferran in creating the first Star Chamber. Indeed, Okemi was the most powerful of the three, but his firm belief in the Final Way led him to approve Taimat’s arcane ritual that ultimately destroyed the Star Chamber, taking the lives of all three. Okemi, though, would return to haunt the Brotherhood in the year 21 ABY.
Exactly how Okemi’s spirit and body managed to remain intact after the ritual is unknown. Many have speculated that the ritual did not kill Okemi, but rather led to his spirit being placed in a deep slumber. For thousands of years, his body rested underneath the Star Chamber. When the members of the Brotherhood returned to the Star Chamber thousands of years later, they unwittingly awoke Okemi’s spirit. Though his body was trapped and decrepit, Okemi’s consciousness managed to take over influential members of the Brotherhood, and the “disease” quickly spread. Okemi had long before developed an intense hatred of the Sith Lords and he reclaimed control of the Star Chamber for himself. The sudden return of Grandmaster Firefox, however, brought an end to this as Firefox slew Okemi. This conflict was known as War of the Star Chamber or, more commonly, the Fifth Great Jedi War.
It should be briefly noted that the Sith race no longer exists. Over the years, the Sith people interbred with the exiled Jedi. “Sith” is now a term for the group as a whole, not any race.
The only Sith Lord not mentioned in the three Sith Empire courses is Okemi, but this is for a good reason. Okemi is not well known in the greater historical context largely because he was exiled from the larger Sith movement. Okemi, believing that the Sith should attack the Republic, rose up against Marka Ragnos. Defeated, Okemi temporarily accepted his exile, but he took with him followers and he fought both his former allies and the Republic. Legend also says that Okemi, for some reason, led the Republic to Ziost, allowing them to defeat the Sith Empire. If this is true (and all legends have at least some truth to them), Okemi may simply have been following the precepts of the Sith: believing the other Sith to be weaker, he devised a plan to eliminate them.
Okemi himself was not killed by the Old Republic or the other Sith. Instead, Okemi went on to join Taimat and Ferran in creating the first Star Chamber. Indeed, Okemi was the most powerful of the three, but his firm belief in the Final Way led him to approve Taimat’s arcane ritual that ultimately destroyed the Star Chamber, taking the lives of all three. Okemi, though, would return to haunt the Brotherhood in the year 21 ABY.
Exactly how Okemi’s spirit and body managed to remain intact after the ritual is unknown. Many have speculated that the ritual did not kill Okemi, but rather led to his spirit being placed in a deep slumber. For thousands of years, his body rested underneath the Star Chamber. When the members of the Brotherhood returned to the Star Chamber thousands of years later, they unwittingly awoke Okemi’s spirit. Though his body was trapped and decrepit, Okemi’s consciousness managed to take over influential members of the Brotherhood, and the “disease” quickly spread. Okemi had long before developed an intense hatred of the Sith Lords and he reclaimed control of the Star Chamber for himself. The sudden return of Grandmaster Firefox, however, brought an end to this as Firefox slew Okemi. This conflict was known as War of the Star Chamber or, more commonly, the Fifth Great Jedi War.
III-Heart of the Sith
The history of the Sith is quite telling and if you read it carefully, you will discover very quickly that there are certain qualities that all Sith embody. Above all, the Sith crave power. Unlike the perfectionist Obelisk or the esoteric Krath, the Sith see power as the ultimate goal. This love of power does not just cover personal power through the Force, but it extends to all other levels: military, political, social, and economic powers are all valid forms of power that a Sith may obtain. The only limit to a Sith’s power is the Sith himself. A smart, strong, and capable Sith will make the right decisions. The weak are weeded out early.
Take Darth Sidious as an example. Known to the galaxy at large as Palpatine, Sidious obtained an extremely high level of Force power, but he also had military, political, social, and economic power. Our own Grandmasters follow in this same path. Since the time of Darth Bane and the Rule of Two, many Sith have proven quite adept at exercising their power from the shadows. As we shall see, this is quite a feat given that Sith often prefer to display their power openly.
Though all Sith seek power, the pursuit is ultimately an individual’s pursuit of power. To this end, each individual Sith will seek out whatever gives them access to more power: Personal instructors, artifacts, torture, and the death of those who hinder the Sith’s progress towards the power he or she desires. It has been said that the easiest way to find a Sith Lord is to follow the bodies of those who got in the way. The path of our own high level Sith, including the Grandmasters, is littered with the dead, many of which undoubtedly have yet to be discovered. One example is Jac Cotelin’s first reign as Grandmaster: in his process of becoming Grandmaster, Cotelin slew, or approved the slaughtering of, countless enemies who had supported “the other.”
This desire for power, however, ultimately leads almost all Sith to become jealous. While a student, the Sith begins to suspect (rightfully so, in most cases) that his or her master is holding something back from them. They are being denied the power they not only yearn for, but believe they have a right to. This jealousy often leads to death, as the student turns on the master, resulting in one of their deaths. For many years, under the Rule of Two, the apprentice had to slay the master as the final part of his ascension to lordship.
Paranoia often seeps into the minds of many elder Sith. They suspect, rightfully so, that their students will turn on them. Even the most trusted advisers are suspect. Those Sith who obtain great political power, such as Palpatine, often create an intricate web of advisers, spies, and assassins, all of which not only report to the Lord, but keep each other in check. Thus, the Lord’s power is preserved and perhaps even enhanced. However, this plan is not fool proof. As we know, Palpatine was betrayed by Darth Vader (or, as many argue, Anakin Skywalker) because Vader had the opportunity to strike when no one else could stop him.
Of all the Orders, the Sith are the most concerned with the Final Way, when the universe will see the extinguishment of the Light and fall under the control of the Dark Side. The Sith will naturally be the leaders of the Final Way. However, the Sith also present a grave threat to the completion of the Final Way. Because of their power hungry nature, the Sith are naturally fractious and disputes within the Order invariably result in massive conflict. It has been said that the Sith fight each other as much as they fight the Jedi.
Take Darth Sidious as an example. Known to the galaxy at large as Palpatine, Sidious obtained an extremely high level of Force power, but he also had military, political, social, and economic power. Our own Grandmasters follow in this same path. Since the time of Darth Bane and the Rule of Two, many Sith have proven quite adept at exercising their power from the shadows. As we shall see, this is quite a feat given that Sith often prefer to display their power openly.
Though all Sith seek power, the pursuit is ultimately an individual’s pursuit of power. To this end, each individual Sith will seek out whatever gives them access to more power: Personal instructors, artifacts, torture, and the death of those who hinder the Sith’s progress towards the power he or she desires. It has been said that the easiest way to find a Sith Lord is to follow the bodies of those who got in the way. The path of our own high level Sith, including the Grandmasters, is littered with the dead, many of which undoubtedly have yet to be discovered. One example is Jac Cotelin’s first reign as Grandmaster: in his process of becoming Grandmaster, Cotelin slew, or approved the slaughtering of, countless enemies who had supported “the other.”
This desire for power, however, ultimately leads almost all Sith to become jealous. While a student, the Sith begins to suspect (rightfully so, in most cases) that his or her master is holding something back from them. They are being denied the power they not only yearn for, but believe they have a right to. This jealousy often leads to death, as the student turns on the master, resulting in one of their deaths. For many years, under the Rule of Two, the apprentice had to slay the master as the final part of his ascension to lordship.
Paranoia often seeps into the minds of many elder Sith. They suspect, rightfully so, that their students will turn on them. Even the most trusted advisers are suspect. Those Sith who obtain great political power, such as Palpatine, often create an intricate web of advisers, spies, and assassins, all of which not only report to the Lord, but keep each other in check. Thus, the Lord’s power is preserved and perhaps even enhanced. However, this plan is not fool proof. As we know, Palpatine was betrayed by Darth Vader (or, as many argue, Anakin Skywalker) because Vader had the opportunity to strike when no one else could stop him.
Of all the Orders, the Sith are the most concerned with the Final Way, when the universe will see the extinguishment of the Light and fall under the control of the Dark Side. The Sith will naturally be the leaders of the Final Way. However, the Sith also present a grave threat to the completion of the Final Way. Because of their power hungry nature, the Sith are naturally fractious and disputes within the Order invariably result in massive conflict. It has been said that the Sith fight each other as much as they fight the Jedi.
IV-The Sith and the Force
Whereas the Krath use the Force to gain knowledge, and the Obelisk use it to obtain perfection in personal combat, the Sith use the Force to obtain power. As with the other two orders, mastery of the Force plays a dual role for the Sith. At its most basic level, mastery of the Force is just another form of power that the Sith will seek. On a more complex level, mastery of the Force is the means by which the Sith will obtain power in other areas.
The Sith are prone to display their power, though older, more experienced Sith know there is a proper time and proper place for such displays. Younger, less experienced Sith tend to show off and brag, and, while all Sith may be perceived as arrogant, the elder members have earned the bragging rights. Though no official statistics exist, rumors abound that more Sith apprentices are killed early on because they picked a fight with the wrong person.
Because of their inherent nature, Sith tend to put their Force powers into those areas where all may see their exploits. Exar Kun slew his former master in front of many spectators; Darth Vader choked Admiral Motti in front of others, not just to convince Motti of his error, but to prove it to everyone else in the room. It should come as little surprise then that many Sith apply themselves to using their power as fighter pilots and becoming the leader of armies and fleets. In the end, the Sith prefer combat on a large scale; though well versed in lightsaber combat, conflicts between armies, fleets, and entire worlds are far more satisfying.
Many Sith also seem incapable of letting go of the power they have obtained. The spirit of Ajunta Pall remained in the physical world long after his death, because he could not let go of who he was. Darth Sidious created numerous clones of himself, in essence granting himself eternal life.
One final thing remains on this topic. Many Sith claim that it is they who seek the purest form of the Dark Side supremacy. If the ultimate desire of any Dark Side user is power, then the Sith claim may have credence. Krath and Obelisk invariably limit themselves to the pursuit of knowledge and perfection, respectively. Sith care not how they achieve the power, so long they achieve it. Of the three orders, the Sith have come the closest to achieving the Final Way, almost wiping the Jedi out on more than one occasion.
The Sith are prone to display their power, though older, more experienced Sith know there is a proper time and proper place for such displays. Younger, less experienced Sith tend to show off and brag, and, while all Sith may be perceived as arrogant, the elder members have earned the bragging rights. Though no official statistics exist, rumors abound that more Sith apprentices are killed early on because they picked a fight with the wrong person.
Because of their inherent nature, Sith tend to put their Force powers into those areas where all may see their exploits. Exar Kun slew his former master in front of many spectators; Darth Vader choked Admiral Motti in front of others, not just to convince Motti of his error, but to prove it to everyone else in the room. It should come as little surprise then that many Sith apply themselves to using their power as fighter pilots and becoming the leader of armies and fleets. In the end, the Sith prefer combat on a large scale; though well versed in lightsaber combat, conflicts between armies, fleets, and entire worlds are far more satisfying.
Many Sith also seem incapable of letting go of the power they have obtained. The spirit of Ajunta Pall remained in the physical world long after his death, because he could not let go of who he was. Darth Sidious created numerous clones of himself, in essence granting himself eternal life.
One final thing remains on this topic. Many Sith claim that it is they who seek the purest form of the Dark Side supremacy. If the ultimate desire of any Dark Side user is power, then the Sith claim may have credence. Krath and Obelisk invariably limit themselves to the pursuit of knowledge and perfection, respectively. Sith care not how they achieve the power, so long they achieve it. Of the three orders, the Sith have come the closest to achieving the Final Way, almost wiping the Jedi out on more than one occasion.
V-The Sith in the Brotherhood
The Sith play a large role in the Brotherhood. As with the other orders, Sith may be found holding numerous leadership positions throughout the Brotherhood. The Sith, however, are unique in one major regard: as previously noted, the Grandmasters of the Brotherhood have all been Sith. Many, but not all, of the Deputy Grandmasters have also been Sith. This is justified by the claim that the Sith are the oldest order and they are the most dedicated to achieving the Final Way.
For many years, the Sith Order was led by a specific member of the Order, known as the High Warrior (initially, this position was simply called Sith Advisor). The first High Warrior of the Sith went by the name Crimedog; the last Sith High Warrior was Sith Bloodfyre. The High Warriors were responsible for maintaining the order and guiding the order in pursuit of the Final Way. Though subordinate to the Grandmaster, the Sith High Warriors wielded great influence over their Order. Grandmaster Firefox himself was Sith High Warrior before becoming Grandmaster.
The Sith in the Brotherhood are often stereotyped as “fighter jocks” and for a good reason. To this day, prominent Sith have led the Brotherhood’s fleets and held positions as the premier fighter pilots. There is a very good reason for this. Fleets are the most prominent signs of power in our galaxy and allow the control over large armies and dominion over entire planets and solar systems. Because of this attraction, numerous early Sith in the Brotherhood established themselves as fleet commanders. Their apprentices followed in their footsteps and even journeymen without a master may wish to obtain these same positions. As command positions on capital starships are not given out lightly, it isn’t uncommon to see many younger Sith start as fighter pilots. So, while it is not accurate to say that all Sith are bound to the stars, there is some truth to the claim as well.
Many Sith, especially those who reach the Elder ranks, go on to be great warlords and tacticians, but being a Sith is no guarantee that one will be a great warlord or tactician, or even a decent one. Take for example Darth Revan: Revan planned and executed great strategies, and his ultimate goal for the galaxy was not merely subjugation under the Sith, but to prepare it for a great danger. To this end, Revan bypassed many important worlds so they would remain intact. Revan’s apprentice, Malak, however, did not use any grand strategy and, upon assuming command himself, he merely set out to conquer everything.
The Brotherhood also presents an interesting and unique situation for all three Orders, but especially in the Sith. The Sith of the Brotherhood have not only rejected the Rule of Two (though many claim it still exists in the form of the Grandmaster and his primary apprentice, the Deputy Grandmaster), but many Sith are not killed by their students. Furthermore, several former Grandmasters remain active in the Brotherhood’s affairs, rather than retreating to their own affairs, or trying to retake the power they once had. In terms of the Sith traditions, the Brotherhood is an anomaly, but most members of the Brotherhood see this uniqueness as a strength, and not a weakness, that will aid in the bringing about of the Final Way.
For many years, the Sith Order was led by a specific member of the Order, known as the High Warrior (initially, this position was simply called Sith Advisor). The first High Warrior of the Sith went by the name Crimedog; the last Sith High Warrior was Sith Bloodfyre. The High Warriors were responsible for maintaining the order and guiding the order in pursuit of the Final Way. Though subordinate to the Grandmaster, the Sith High Warriors wielded great influence over their Order. Grandmaster Firefox himself was Sith High Warrior before becoming Grandmaster.
The Sith in the Brotherhood are often stereotyped as “fighter jocks” and for a good reason. To this day, prominent Sith have led the Brotherhood’s fleets and held positions as the premier fighter pilots. There is a very good reason for this. Fleets are the most prominent signs of power in our galaxy and allow the control over large armies and dominion over entire planets and solar systems. Because of this attraction, numerous early Sith in the Brotherhood established themselves as fleet commanders. Their apprentices followed in their footsteps and even journeymen without a master may wish to obtain these same positions. As command positions on capital starships are not given out lightly, it isn’t uncommon to see many younger Sith start as fighter pilots. So, while it is not accurate to say that all Sith are bound to the stars, there is some truth to the claim as well.
Many Sith, especially those who reach the Elder ranks, go on to be great warlords and tacticians, but being a Sith is no guarantee that one will be a great warlord or tactician, or even a decent one. Take for example Darth Revan: Revan planned and executed great strategies, and his ultimate goal for the galaxy was not merely subjugation under the Sith, but to prepare it for a great danger. To this end, Revan bypassed many important worlds so they would remain intact. Revan’s apprentice, Malak, however, did not use any grand strategy and, upon assuming command himself, he merely set out to conquer everything.
The Brotherhood also presents an interesting and unique situation for all three Orders, but especially in the Sith. The Sith of the Brotherhood have not only rejected the Rule of Two (though many claim it still exists in the form of the Grandmaster and his primary apprentice, the Deputy Grandmaster), but many Sith are not killed by their students. Furthermore, several former Grandmasters remain active in the Brotherhood’s affairs, rather than retreating to their own affairs, or trying to retake the power they once had. In terms of the Sith traditions, the Brotherhood is an anomaly, but most members of the Brotherhood see this uniqueness as a strength, and not a weakness, that will aid in the bringing about of the Final Way.
IV-Conclusion
The Sith Order is the oldest order in existence. The Sith are often portrayed as power hungry dictators, but few realize how accurate this picture truly is. The Sith are simultaneously the leaders of the Final Way and the most dangerous threat to it. They have come close to destroying the Jedi more than once, and they have come close to destroying themselves more than once. Many Sith are leaders, but so many more Sith never realize their full potential. They get so caught up in their lust for power that they fail to develop the skills necessary to be a great, powerful leader, and they die an ignoble death. Those Sith that do master the Force and do learn the necessary skills invariably become great leaders. They will die in the greatest traditions of the Order, slain by their own apprentice, or they may live a long life.
Being a Sith in the Brotherhood guarantees you absolutely nothing, other than the opportunity to obtain great power for yourself. However, just as the Krath seek more knowledge and the Obelisk seek personal perfection, a Sith must seek power individually. Either you have others serve you, or you will serve them.
Being a Sith in the Brotherhood guarantees you absolutely nothing, other than the opportunity to obtain great power for yourself. However, just as the Krath seek more knowledge and the Obelisk seek personal perfection, a Sith must seek power individually. Either you have others serve you, or you will serve them.
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