SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

by SLotH4

Documentation piece covering the history, various Orders of Sith, ideologies and philosophies, goals and objectives, and important individuals of the Sith Collective. Set within "Shadow of the Phoenix" and written by my author friend Xabiar. [In-Progress]

4. Order of Darth Revan

SLotH4's Note: This chapter was actually written months ago, well before the one on Vathila, but it was decided they should be published in order of joining the Collective. So, Revan languished on the back-burner until now. Enjoy.

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SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

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THE ORDER OF DARTH REVAN

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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, only 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.

xxx

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.

xxx

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.

xxx

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.

xxx

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.

xxx

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.

xxx

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.

xxx

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.

xxx

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.

xxx

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 knew more about his distant ancestor, the more 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 whom 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.

xxx

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.

xxx

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?