SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness
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ON TRUTH, POWER, AND EVOLUTION – A NEW ERA OF THE SITH
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
xxx
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 Jedi 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.
xxx
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.
xxx
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.
xxx
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 Jedi 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.
xxx
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.