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]

7. Order of Darth Nox

SotP Addenda – Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness

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THE ORDER OF DARTH NOX

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ON THE ERASURE OF LEGACY

And now, reader, let us explore something different.

We come to the Order of Darth Nox.

How much do you know of this particular Sith Lord?

Be honest. There is no shame for true ignorance, but I reserve scorn for those who pretend otherwise.

So speak.

What do you know?

Perhaps you feel confused right now, especially if you lack knowledge of Darth Nox, and wonder why I highlight your ignorance. I highlight it because there is a reason your knowledge is lacking.

What differentiates Nox from the myriad of Sith legends? For her power was equivalent to Sith like Traya and Kaan. Her knowledge could stand with the greatest masters of the esoteric such as Palpatine or Plagueis. Her leadership and charisma were comparable to Revan and Snoke.

Oh, you believe I exaggerate? That I would embellish the prowess of the woman who rallied the galaxy against the Eternal Empire? The same polity which brought both the Old Republic and Sith Empire low?

I wonder if you even know what I reference.

In good time. All you need know, reader, is that despite these feats, she is forgotten.

Forgotten by Jedi.

Forgotten by Sith.

Forgotten by the galaxy itself.

Why?

Consider for a moment the question. Consider why someone like this would be forgotten.

Yes, the answer should emerge now.

Invoke the second, critical question.

Was she forgotten… or erased?

It is understandable why the Jedi would have wished her to fade. She was Sith. Fully, brilliantly, unapologetically Sith. It was a Sith who saved the galaxy from perfidious Zakuul. It was a Sith to whom Jedi and Republican forces answered.

For a brief time, they acknowledged this. But as the Dark Age dragged on for its centuries, new myths were written, new legends arose, and new lies were created that banished Darth Nox to a footnote, at best.

I blame not the Jedi for doing this. It is in their nature.

I am less forgiving for our kind who did the same thing.

Sith who buried the truth out of jealousy and pride; those who found her philosophies, compromises, and actions during the war more repulsive than their existing state of humiliation. Leeches and vultures eager to pick apart the corpse of one who eclipsed them even in death.

They knew the truth, and elected to hide it. For in Darth Nox, we see a proof of victory that Lady Vathila has also seen. A galaxy ruled by the Sith, guided and directed by the darkness, where even Jedi knew their place.

The ignorant might say that it was not until Emperor Palpatine that the Sith ruled the galaxy.

Nox achieved it first – if only for a brief time, in circumstances that will likely never be replicated. Yet the theory was proven, and put into practice.

We now face a crossroads with this truth – do we turn away from the lessons of Nox out of jealousy, dismissing them as irreplicable? Or do we learn and see how this woman forged a legacy so potent, so strong, so decisive that nearly all sought to purge it from galactic memory?

You are here, reader. I think we know what you will say.

But while the galaxy forgot Nox, there were those who did not.

These were her companions. Her disciples. Her subjects. Jedi, Sith, citizens of Republic and Imperial origin, criminals and smugglers, spies and soldiers. Those who had been united under the singular, dominant leadership of this woman.

This is the Order of Darth Nox.

Though I must be honest, reader, this is something of a misnomer, for this Order is not one in the traditional sense – ironic, as it was only the fourth to join our Collective.

Other Orders possess certain structures to them; there are expectations and conditioning that I have not attempted to dissuade you from falling into. The Order of Darth Nox is not an organization, a state, or even a unified structure as you are familiar with. It is something unorthodox, unique, and in many ways, alien to our modern society.

It is an amalgamation of disparate demographics, cultures, and species that have evolved, merged, diverged, and created a civilization unlike any in the galaxy, let alone amongst the Sith. On the twin worlds of Dromund Kaas and Dromund Fels, the direct descendants of Darth Nox rule over billions.

Together with this lineage, so too do the descendants of six of the closest disciples of Darth Nox assist in this arduous task. Bloodlines that have remained unbroken for millennia – and whose branches have sprouted myriads more noble houses that further assist in the rule of these worlds.

Drellik.

Xalek.

Zavros.

Revel.

Shan.

Beniko.

These are the disciples of Darth Nox. Do any of these names sound familiar to you? The learned should recognize at least one of them.

They are a reflection of the galaxy that Nox briefly forged. Each of these families comes from a distinctly different background. Sith. Pirates. Spies. Assassins. Archeologists. Jedi. Yet all of them found their way to Nox, and became devoted to her and her vision for the galaxy. And when she died, it fell to them to continue this legacy.

The Order of Nox may have the trappings of a modern state, even one ruled by an elite. But make no mistake – it is a complex, alien, labyrinth of personalities, histories, and dynamics that comprise an aristocracy that grew from the harrowing years of the Dark Age.

A civilization that was forced to adapt… or die like countless others from that time. The legacies of Nox and her disciples endure – but they have long since evolved beyond what their forebears created.

Is your curiosity piqued? I hope so.

Let us learn more.

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ON PERSISTENCE AND ENDURANCE

What words might be used to best describe the Order of Darth Nox?

Powerful? Contradictory? Ambitious? Insular? Alien?

There's a compelling argument for each of these words. Yet do any of them properly describe the Order's dynamics effectively? I would argue not – simply because each holds a complexity that overlooks the Order's clearest characteristic, one that is almost taken for granted.

Persistence.

There were many worlds, civilizations, and peoples who found themselves isolated and stranded in the Dark Age; trapped in the ruins of cities laid waste by orbital bombardment. Disasters of unfathomable scale. Countless refugees. Starvation. Mass crime. Violence. Shortages of every possible need.

We live in an age of relative prosperity. One can be poor, but few will experience the feeling of exposure to snowstorms that leave fields of frozen corpses in their wake. One might experience hunger, but will not understand a craving so acute that it drives them to become animals.

Who would you kill to secure something so trivial as your next meal? A stranger? A neighbor?

A silly question.

What about your sibling? Your best friend? Your lover?

A bit more thought-provoking, no? There may not be enough for everyone.

What would you do, as those you know descend into madness? As parents eat their children?

Consider yourself fortunate that the Dark Age is behind us – and the galaxy has not experienced another. Yet this was the reality faced by countless worlds from every corner of the galaxy.

Nox was gone, and with her, the glue that held the coalition together.

Did they work together, or scheme against the other? Did they even have enough to support themselves? Did their leaders retain the strength and respect necessary to rule?

Some worlds and populations resolved these differences… most did not.

Dromund Kaas was one of the exceptions.

There were Republic soldiers, Imperial bureaucrats, surviving Jedi and Sith, and an entire Mandalorian clan. Nearly all factions of the coalition were represented on Dromund Kaas, and one could reasonably expect order to collapse within weeks.

Yet it did not.

The disciples of Nox made a promise to themselves and the world they found in their charge – they would not succumb to the division and fear that dominated the lessers of their brethren. They would survive this Dark Age, and forge something that Nox herself would respect.

By any means necessary.

Persistence, reader, is not some passive, innate trait one possesses. It is drive, it is resolve, it is action. It is to defy the natural expectation, and rise above it. To persist demands is to impose your will upon others – upon fate itself.

Nox's disciples persisted.

Did you think that they survived through sheer luck? That there just so happened to be the right people, with the right ideas, at the right time?

I'm afraid fate is rarely so kind.

No, the birth of the Kaasian Nobility – as it would later become – came not through understanding, brotherhood, and compromise, but through coercion, subjugation, and blood. Those who threatened the tenuous stability were excised and made examples of. Plotters of all types were exposed and hunted. Insurgents and rebels were crushed.

The social fabric; the divergent and diverse histories and cultures of the people on this world; they fought against this alien amalgamation that was forming – but their efforts were rendered meaningless in the face of the iron persistence the disciples of Nox displayed.

All of the disciples were unified on this matter, and acted against any who sought to undermine them. In the end, their efforts were successful. Be it through fear, or simply because all enemies had been purged, the threat of upheaval was expelled – and the foundations for the new order could be laid down.

And through their persistence, came their survival.

In their later years, Nox's disciples died wondering how long it would last, and if their descendants would possess the same resolve they did… if they could persist.

What would you say, reader, if I told you their fears were for naught, and they successfully forged an era of peace that lasted until the present?

Perhaps a simple test, but I must make sure you are paying some attention, no?

The plotters changed, the schemes became more sophisticated, the driving factors were no longer along simplistic tribal lines such as 'Imperial,' 'Jedi,' or 'Sith.' Instead, cliques and factors driven by native ideologies and beliefs arose. Yet they were enemies of the Order all the same – and they met the same fate.

For over three thousand years the families of the original disciples faced insurrection, treason, and rebellion and yet they did not break, they did not waver, they did not question. They acted as one, bound by the promise made in the name of Nox so long ago.

And their persistence ensured their survival.

One could say they now thrive.

If you take nothing else away from this section, let it be this – there are those in our Collective who hold the Order of Darth Nox in low regard. They consider them weak, soft, and unworthy of the prestige that comes with our Collective. They view them as a bastard hybrid of Sith and Jedi, incapable and unworthy of integrating with the pure Sith that they, of course, represent.

The ignorance. The arrogance.

Beware the words and thoughts of such people, reader. Alien the Order of Nox may be to Sith who are raised and taught in the traditional ways – but never mistake their warriors and scholars as weak, for to do so is to fall into the same trap so many others have before.

Because while their interests and aims have turned inward, what has always united them is an outside threat.

Take care.

If one wishes to poke the rancor, do not be surprised when it rends you asunder with frightening power, and iron resolve. The Order of Darth Nox persisted through the Dark Age.

This is not a feat to be taken lightly.

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ON DARTH NOX, COUNCILOR OF THE SPHERE OF MYSTERIES

Now, let us speak of Darth Nox.

This is not her birth name, of course. Nox only earned her true name when she became someone who mattered within the Sith Empire.

Much of Nox's life before her arrival to Korriban is known only to her, and perhaps those closest to her. All that is known, perhaps all that is relevant, is that she stepped foot on the sacred sands of Korriban not as a figure of promise, lineage, and bloodline – but as a slave.

Surprised? That a figure of such esteem and power came from such a low position?

I cannot blame you if you are. Rarely do people of such poor stock prove worthy of more than their station, but Nox proved the exception. Her affinity with the Force spared her from a life where she would be rightfully employed and disposed of – alone and forgotten. Yet Nox did not intend to suffer such a fate.

She knew she was worth more.

Her status as a slave was irrelevant to this. She understood better than most 'proper' Sith that the great are not constrained by such circumstances. They can claw their way to power if only they are ambitious enough. If they are worthy, it will be proven – whether they are born a slave or a lord.

Perhaps you wonder why she was a slave at all… does it matter?

Would it change who Nox was if she was a trophy of war? If she was the victim of Imperial politics? If it was a punishment for an unknown failure, and becoming Sith was her singular chance of redemption?

I do not believe it does.

It does not change the fundamental moral of Nox's tale: those who are truly great will overcome any adversity.

No other Sith of her era better represents the fundamental purity of our people's beliefs. She was bold and tenacious, intelligent and charming, cruel to her enemies and magnanimous to her followers. She was the epitome of what we could achieve, and the validation of thousands of years of teaching and history. A woman none could say had not earned her status through blood, sacrifice, and tears.

It is an unfortunate reality that she was one of the last who truly embodied what it means to be Sith. One who was proud, powerful, confident – who cared little for the opinions of her inferiors. One who never apologized for her superiority over them. One who was not conciliatory, or humble, or acted as if she was owed less than absolute obedience and fealty.

One who was truly Sith.

I have wondered why Nox in particular stands out; what she possesses that so many fall to her shadow. Perhaps it is her story, of coming from nothing, only to claw her way into becoming one of the most powerful Sith of her time. Perhaps it is her later life when she brought down a supposedly eternal empire. Yet I believe the answer is simpler than this.

Nox is a survivor – the last one standing, when all others fall.

But we get ahead of ourselves. Let us back up to her rise to power.

Nox's rise through the ranks of the Sith was steady, yet unsurprising. She quickly threw off the shackles of slavery, becoming the apprentice of Darth Zash, a prominent and studied Sith Lord in the arts of sorcery and ritual.

Nox began making a name for herself in her service as she traveled the worlds of the Sith Empire. While hunting for artifacts and knowledge that Zash demanded, Nox simultaneously began integrating herself into the power structures and factions of the wider Sith Empire. She expertly and intelligently paired her own ambitions to the future of the Sith Empire as a whole.

She established relationships throughout the Sith military, Imperial Intelligence, and the bureaucracy as a whole – as well as courting up-and-coming Sith who sought to forward their own ambitions, and could be useful allies. As was said earlier, she had ambition, and she was already crafting a power base for her to leverage in the future.

Her ambitions came to a head eventually. Darth Zash attempted to kill Nox, fearing her Apprentice would soon surpass and kill her – a fear soon realized as Nox emerged victorious in the attempt.

That, reader, was the act that made many powerful people turn their attention to the young, ambitious, and powerful miraluka. Amongst them was Darth Thanaton of the Dark Council.

Thanaton had been aware of Nox from the moment she set foot on Korriban, as he was rivals with Darth Zash and wisely kept a close eye on her machinations. In Nox, he saw a similarity of interest and an equivalence of power, quickly deducing that if any seat on the Dark Council was to be challenged by Nox, it would be his.

Hardly a surprise. Nox's ambitions were clear, it was simply a question of when and how she would attempt to supplant his position. Ultimately, it would come down to her leveraging a secret ability she'd discovered under Zash's tutelage – the ability to harness the power of spirits.

Through rituals of blood and the Force, she was able to bind the spirits of powerful Sith and Jedi alike to her, allowing her to channel their power and augment herself in a way almost no others could.

This technique, known as 'Force Walking,' was an ancient Sith ritual that had many historical users who rose quickly to prominence – before falling just as quickly. The reason for this quickly becomes apparent, as power rarely comes without a price.

There is a limit to what the mind can handle, dear reader. Tell me, if you were to draw another's spirit into your body; into your mind, could you handle the foreign presence? Could you handle two of them? More? Such is the dilemma faced by all Force Walkers. The greatest amongst them can only barely handle binding two spirits, any more and they are driven insane, or the raw power destroys their bodies in a fantastic explosion. Often, they can only maintain their power for a short time regardless, hence how quickly they appear to disappear from history.

Nox attempted to bind at least four spirits in such a manner before directly challenging Thanatos. An action that nearly killed her… and him. The attempt left her clinging to life, with her mind on the verge of madness – but as I said earlier, Nox was a survivor.

Survive she did.

The experience did not temper her, nor dissuade her, nor halt her ambitions. She continued expanding her base of loyalists until her network spanned the breadth of the Empire. Her knowledge of the Force was refined to a vibroblade's edge. She learned from her mistakes and grew into a powerhouse to rival any in the Empire. All this, and the only thing standing in the way of her ambition was Darth Thanaton.

However, openly pursuing his downfall was now risky for two reasons. The first was because as a member of the Dark Council, Thanaton had immense resources at his disposal. Yet the second reason is far more important, because it limited Thanaton in a similar way. The dynamics of the Sith Empire itself had changed thanks to a certain individual who now enters Nox's tale.

Emperor Jadus.

Much had changed in the Empire and the Sith itself during Nox's rise. Ever since Jadus had emerged from his faked death – as worlds across the Empire burned because of his machinations – he had been remaking the empire in his image.

The consequences of Jadus's 'Eradication Day' – which heralded his ascension – limited Nox's ability to assert herself. Thanaton was not spared Jadus's humbling – many of his acolytes were murdered, his allies punished, and his worlds crippled.

Jadus meant to bring what he saw as pointless infighting to an end – the power plays amongst Sith Lords were the first to draw his attention. As he was remaking Imperial society, he turned all his efforts towards war with the Republic. All of the internal plots of the Sith, including the Dark Council's, entered a freeze where they were forced to be far more subtle, or stop entirely.

Else they risked Jadus's wrath – and the Emperor showed little hesitation in executing any Sith who did not conform, regardless of station.

Thus, the feud between Nox and Thanaton was dangerous for both of them. Jadus had near-zero tolerance for such bloody traditions, even if his attention was focused on preparing for war against the Republic – and the Jedi.

Jadus was greatly resented among vast swathes of the Sith for this reason. However, few were willing – or capable – of directly challenging the self-proclaimed Emperor. Those who did were well-known across the Empire, as their brutal and humiliating punishments were broadcast galaxy-wide. Nonetheless, both Thanaton and Nox worked to prepare themselves for their inevitable clash.

Eventually, through ancient rituals lost to time, Nox managed to master her control over the spirits she'd bound – reclaiming her power and her sanity. Once more whole, she employed subterfuge to substantially weaken Thanaton's base of power before initiating a direct challenge for his seat on the Dark Council. In earlier eras of the Sith Empire, this might have resulted in a direct power struggle – with Emperor Jadus ever-vigilant, there was only one avenue open to them.

An ancient tradition known as a 'Kaggath.'

Thanaton challenged Nox to a Kaggath on Corellia following the Sith's relatively bloodless conquest of the world. To the surprise of many, the contest was approved by Jadus, who simply expected them to fight each other in a ritual contest of strength.

Given what followed, it is unlikely Jadus understood exactly what a Kaggath entailed. In all likelihood, Jadus was making a political calculation intended to lessen the grumbling of traditional-minded Sith – while hopefully removing one of their loudest champions.

No matter Jadus's reasoning, he quickly regretted giving his tacit approval once the Kaggath began. For the Kaggath was no mere duel – it was a war.

Neither participant held back against the other, each bringing everything in their powerbases to bear in the conflict. Armies, loyalists, lesser Sith, segments of the Imperial military allied to them. Every resource and ally and debt they could call upon came to Corellia – engaging in a contest of strength that would see the victor sit upon the Dark Council.

Entire swaths of the world were consumed in flame and blood – scars of their war still linger upon Corellia. Hundreds of thousands were left dead in their wake, and millions more might have expired were it not for Darth Decimus. Decimus was the Dark Councilor who had overseen the relatively bloodless conquest of Corellia, and it was he who brought a preliminary end to the contest, and forced Nox and Thanaton to settle their dispute in-person, before the Dark Council.

The Kaggath had broken the tenuous political situation on Corellia, and given new life to the Corellian resistance and their Republican backers. Corellia devolved into an attritional war front that consumed entire Imperial armies for years to come and is widely understood to have been a blunder that the Empire never truly recovered from.

In retrospect, perhaps Corellia was not the best place to host the Kaggath – though there are few in my opinion that would have been as worthy for a contest between two titans of the Sith. Alas, Jadus did not see it in such poetic terms, and Decimus's compromise almost certainly saved both from being executed by the furious Emperor.

Both Nox and Thanaton agreed to hold a final duel before the Dark Council, and demonstrate once and for all who was stronger. There are ancient tomes in the Royal Library in Kaas City – books as thick as your leg – dedicated to this Kaggath and the final duel.

They speak of immense power that shook the very planet, of viscous hate that stained the very air, of a former slave casting down a great man and seizing all that was once his. This was the moment she earned her true name.

She was Darth Nox, Dark Councilor of the Sphere of Mysteries.

This moment fills me with no small amount of melancholy. Such was the true end of an era, for she was the last Sith to ascend to the Dark Council in such a way.

Darth Jadus banned the practice of the Kaggath following her ascension, and reasserted that any Sith using Imperial resources for power plays and infighting would be put to death. Nox was among the last of the traditional Sith, and the catalyst for the astonishing rate of Jadus's purge of numerous hallowed traditions, and any who did not comply.

Nox had nonetheless succeeded, and now not only found herself a Dark Councilor, but also had unwittingly become the head of a political faction that had been evolving ever since Jadus began his rule.

While the Republic commanded the attention of the Sith, it did not mean the end of Sith politics. In the era following Nox's ascension, there were three distinct strains of thought within the Sith that endured – all of which were opposed to each other in fundamental ways.

The first was Jadus's philosophy that rode the line between pragmatism and utter radicalism. Much of it was contrary to Sith tradition – bordering upon the heretical. Notably, his legitimacy came from only a small number of Sith, but was widespread in the non-Sith population – especially amongst aliens.

He had the backing of Imperial Intelligence, and used them to great effect in removing troublesome agitators and keeping the populace in line. Finally, there was his own extensive power that had previously humbled the entire Dark Council, no slovenly emperor he.

The second was represented by a very unexpected source: Darth Vauner, the Emperor's Wrath of Vitiate. His emergence directly challenged the supremacy of Jadus – though did not remove his hold completely. That is a different story, for a different time, but what is critical is that Vauner represented a certain idealism and conciliatory approach to many Sith ideas, some of which aligned with Jadus, but many did not.

He derived his own influence primarily from his position as Wrath – and with Vitiate's authority, he was a thorn in the side of Jadus and Nox alike. He alone was responsible for carving out a certain kind of Sith philosophy that some whispered was heretical and aligned more with Jedi teachings.

Rumors and whispers that were curiously absent when the Emperor's Wrath was present.

This left Nox to represent what had become an ostracized school of thought – the more traditional and conservative views of the Sith. It was composed of many senior Sith Lords who rankled at the reforms and changes Jadus and Vauner were instituting. It was enough for Nox to build a base of allies within the Dark Council – one strong enough that Jadus took it seriously, and one that tempered Vauner's more extreme ideas.

This was partially because there remained a small majority of Sith Lords who subscribed to the traditional ideas of our kind, and privately seethed at the perceived weakening of their people. To them, it was anathema for a Sith to obey strict chains of command, respect the non-Force-sensitive, embrace aliens, and abolish slavery.

Nox was the focal point for this perspective – though her views on slavery were colored by her former bondage, and often conflicted with her allies. Still, she never wavered from her core stances – though she was savvy enough to know when to challenge Jadus and Vauner, and when to bite her tongue.

This stew of political jockeying kept the domestic peace, in its own shambolic way. Allowing all factions to turn their attention to more pressing issues of foreign affairs, namely, a continuing war of attrition against a rapidly modernizing, militarizing, and radicalizing Republic and Jedi Order.

Years of war dragged on. Billions dead on each side. A slow-motion cataclysm which culminated in a singularly unexpected detour: the Revanite War.

Darth Revan had been quietly building an army of traitors, loyalists, and spies for years following his release from the Maelstrom Prison. When his forces were ready, he commenced total war against the Republic and Empire alike. Both sides had lost some of their best leaders, as well as countless resources and soldiers. Politically it was little better, the public was growing war-weary – yes, dear reader, this terrible affliction can infect even Sith-dominated cultures.

Revan's return was like a vibroblade to the hearts of Empire and Republic, and while both never formally declared a truce, they were quickly forced to contend with the Revanite forces throughout their territories. Revan himself focused on the Sith, personally invading Dromund Kaas, intending to destroy the Dark Council and kill Emperor Jadus.

He succeeded in one of those objectives, and may have succeeded in the other were it not for Darth Nox.

Revan carved his way through Dromund Kaas – laying waste to all who opposed him. Sith Lords, Dark Councilors, Emperor Jadus himself… none could withstand him. These battles were terrific and catastrophic in equal measure, and they left Revan weakened and weary. Still, he remained dangerous enough to almost kill Darth Nox as well.

But in the end, she emerged victorious – battered and near-death, but victorious nonetheless. In one fell swoop, the Revanite War was brought to a close.

It would take many months to clear out the remaining Revanite loyalists, holdouts, and armies – not to mention the Sith Empire was in disarray due to the decapitation strikes against its leadership. With Jadus dead, there was genuine concern that a fatal schism would open between the Sith factions, leading to civil war.

Intending to prevent this, Nox seized control of the Sith Empire, reconstituted the Dark Council, and was in active communication with Cipher Nine – who held sway over the Jadus loyalists – and Darth Vauner. Historical records indicate she was preparing to declare herself empress, though her ambitions were foiled when a new force emerged… one silent for so long.

Emperor Vitiate.

The long-absent Emperor personally returned to Dromund Kaas, and declared his intention to reassert control over the Sith Empire, and destroy the Republic and Jedi once and for all. Many believed that Nox would challenge the Emperor directly after this. Perhaps, perhaps not. What her intentions may have been are unknown, what is known is that after a personal meeting with the Emperor, she gave her full support to him.

One wonders if Vitiate's return might have ushered in an age of Sith triumph, as with the weakened condition of the Republic and Jedi, he would have almost certainly succeeded. Alas, it was not to be, as a new threat – again unforeseen by any side – emerged from deep in the Unknown Regions.

The Eternal Empire of Zakuul.

Thousands of years later, I remain struck by the sheer chaos of this era. As if there is never a moment for the galaxy to breathe and recuperate. One hopes our own era remains stable – notwithstanding the Collective's eventual conquest and fragmentation, but I digress.

One finds it curious that Zakuul had not intervened already, despite clearly knowing of both Republic and Empire beforehand. Their invasion demonstrates an acute knowledge of how each side operated and was organized – along with their strengths and weaknesses. It is my personal belief that their emergence, at this time, was no coincidence – but a direct reaction to Vitiate's return. Given the legends of the man, the feats he was said to have accomplished, the raw power he embodied… perhaps even they felt threatened by him.

In the end, it does not matter.

The galaxy was a brittle sabacc tower – both Empire and Republic were crippled to near-uselessness. The galaxy was naked before the single most powerful polity of the era, and they took full advantage.

Coruscant and Dromund Kaas, Tython and Korriban, all fell to the armies of the Eternal Throne. From Satele Shan of the Jedi, to Darth Marr of the Sith, and everyone in-between – to include the Emperor's Wrath – fell to Zakuulian blades. Darth Nox herself was taken captive in her last stand in Kaas City against Horizon Commander Vaylin, who led the Eternal Empire's elite unit.

Many believed she met her end before the Eternal Throne.

The Eternal Empire forever changed the galactic status quo. An unknown enemy that came out of nowhere crushed the states that had dominated the galaxy for millennia. Imperial and Republican resistance sprang up almost immediately, with surviving Jedi and Sith attempting to organize as best they could.

This inevitably led to a degree of cooperation between factions. With actors on each side slowly trying to build a stronger, unified alliance – particularly, Sith Lord Lana Beniko and SIS Officer Theron Shan.

Still, some wounds were too fresh, the distrust too fierce. There were none amongst the surviving old guard who could inspire – or force – unity between the disparate factions. Thus, the resistance floundered as the Zakuulians solidified their control and turned the Republic and Empire into rump states and tributaries.

Until, that is, Beniko and Shan's small band discovered something that could shift the entire conflict: Darth Nox was alive, and being held captive by the Eternal Empire.

Energized by this news, a prisonbreak was quickly planned, staged, and successfully executed that not only saw Nox freed, but also led to the fall of the Zakuulian prison world itself. Many of Zakuul's most prized captives were liberated, and many eagerly joined the resistance. Darth Nox assumed control of what quickly became the 'Alliance Against the Eternal Empire,' and began transforming it into a force capable of victory.

History concerning this period is, unfortunately, limited, but there exists enough to share some basic facts and realities. There are numerous accounts, especially from the Republican side, that Nox was but one factor in the success of the Alliance, and her success was in no small part due to working closely with Jedi, Republic officials, and Zakuulian defectors. At no point, is it claimed that Nox had full control over the Alliance – some sources even have the temerity to refer to her as a 'figurehead.'

Nonsense, reader, simply deceptive, revisionist nonsense. And the gall of these so-called histories to besmirch her memory with such disreputable language.

Recall that Nox was Sith. And not the pragmatic-radical Sith of Jadus, or the conciliatory and idealistic strain that Vauner embodied. She was traditional, proud, and imposingly Sith.

This did not mean she was blunt and stupid, as many Sith who think with their fists and not brains are. She cultivated allies and like-minded figures in the Republican side soon after she assumed control, corrupting and shaping them to reflect her goals and ideals. Those who were resistant to her leadership met unfortunate ends – usually on the battlefield, where their sacrifice offered something of value. Others succumbed to internal politics and were ousted.

With no one of equivalent power or experience to challenge her, Nox orchestrated and executed numerous plots against these internal enemies, nearly all of which succeeded, barring her attempts to subordinate Cipher Nine and his Imperial Intelligence remnants. She created an Alliance where both Jedi and Sith, Republic and Empire, answered to her, or whose loyalty to her cause was unquestioned.

It was a masterful display of guile, political aptitude, and Sith ruthlessness. No, Nox never demeaned or softened herself to achieve this degree of control. She did not compromise what she stood for in pursuit of a nebulous greater good. It was her vision that mattered, her desires that would be realized, and as the greatest Sith do, she carved vision into reality.

The Alliance was led to numerous direct victories against Zakuul. Rebellions were launched on a thousand worlds of Imperial and Republican origin, and the Eternal Empire, already unstable due to the death of Emperor Valkorian at the hands of his son Arcann, was beginning to weaken and lose cohesion as Empress Vaylin ruled in increasingly violent, schizophrenic, and contradictory ways. There are reports that even in her final months, Empress Vaylin dedicated a full fifth of Zakuul's military might to pointlessly smash itself against Voss. Might the war have gone another way had she not been so wasteful?

Yet even with this internal tension – this shambolic leadership deficit – the Eternal Empire still held its own against the galaxy, even as the rump states rearmed and agitated and increased the scope and scale of the war beyond the hit-and-run guerilla tactics of Nox's Alliance. There was little reason for them to fear anything. Afterall, they'd humbled the Republic and Empire when they'd been far more powerful than their current pitiful state.

Zakuul would persist while its enemies floundered, this was their truth. As time went on, this truth began infecting even the most ardent partisans within the Alliance. For all their victories and near-misses, the Alliance could not surmount Zakuul itself. It was then that a rumor began spreading amongst the Alliance leadership, a rumor confirmed a dozen times over… that she who sits upon Eternal Throne, would control the mighty fleet of Zakuul.

This one hope became the driving force to end a war that had persisted for years. A surgical strike against Zakuul was planned – dozens of strategies employed and discarded and reconsidered until finally a mission was developed to end the war. A desperate gamble unlike any they'd employed previously. A full-on assault against Planet Zakuul.

The records of this period are sparse and contradictory. There is a convention amongst the historians of Dromund Kaas that I shall relay to you now. They speak of a great battle in the Throne Room above Zakuul, where Nox and her retinue slew the Empress and seized the Eternal Throne. That Nox herself, battered by the conflict, sat upon the Throne and ordered the fleet to stand down.

And yet, that did not happen.

The Kaas histories claim there was a deception by the Empress and her late father. That in reality, no usurper would ever be allowed control. When Darth Nox sat upon the Throne, the fleet abandoned its battles and laid waste to every inhabited world it could find. Base Delta Zero on a galactic-scale.

The rain of plasma lasted a full two months before the fleet simply vanished, leaving the Republic and Sith Empire in utter ruin. The Eternal Empire fared little better, as Nox's final command was to raze all Zakuulian worlds to cinders in reciprocal xenocide.

And in her final act, Nox boarded her ship and jumped to hyperspace on course for Zakuul's sun. The impact was so devastating that it triggered a supernova that vaporized the capital system and left nothing behind beyond a new nebula.

Rubbish.

Forgive me, but I will only tolerate fanciful mythologizing up to a point. Those of you familiar with the physics of hyperspace are likely in agreement with me. One cannot occupy hyperspace anywhere near a gravity well in excess of point-two-four g. It is simply impossible. It's why interdictor mines are so effective at disrupting hyperlanes. If Nox truly made the jump into the star, the vessel would have returned to real-space well before it ineffectually crashed into the chromosphere.

It is more probable that Zakuul was similarly razed by Nox's fleet and the system's coordinates lost to time. That no one has found it is hardly surprising, given the near-infinite number of uncharted systems in Wild Space.

Regardless of the truth, the consequences were stark. A galactic Dark Age not seen since the collapse of the Infinite Empire of the rakata, and by the will of the Force, will never be experienced again.

---

ON DISCOVERY AND AN ALLIANCE

No world was spared the devastation the Eternal Fleet and Nox unleashed upon the galaxy. From Coruscant to Dromund Kaas, the unending rain of plasma left trillions dead before the fleets retreated to parts unknown.

Within the span of weeks, the entirety of galactic civilization reverted to a technological and industrial level not seen in millennia. There was no Republic or Empire anymore – there were only isolated worlds beset by compounding crises. Where everyone and everything was touched by tragedy until their collective suffering echoed through the Force in a reverberating cascade that drove Jedi and Sith light-years away mad with reciprocal empathy.

Can you even comprehend the level of privation required to drive a hardened Sith Lord to madness by proxy?

One of the first worlds to be fully reclaimed by the Alliance, Dromund Kaas had become a stronghold during the war, and served as the center and symbol of Darth Nox's authority – even as she commanded the war effort from Odessen. Every major faction that comprised the Alliance was represented there. Subordinate Sith, Jedi aligned to her mission, Republic officials, the Alliance Intelligence apparatus, and Imperial commanders and strategists were all on Dromund Kaas until the end of the war.

Fortunately, contingencies were accounted for, and thus they were better prepared than most worlds for the bombardment. Yet the scale of devastation could not be understated, especially since Dromund Kaas had become a refuge for numerous civilians from across the galaxy.

Dromund Kaas had never been a heavily populated world, or a particularly diverse one during the Empire. It was dominated by the human-majority Sith, even as aliens became more common following the reforms of Jadus and Vauner. The vestiges of this lingering system were fully abandoned out of practical necessity by Nox during the conflict, despite some minimal protests.

No one could be spared for the war effort – so long as they submitted to her authority. Numerous communities of aliens, from kaleesh to togruta, took refuge in large numbers, toiling away in the Dromund industry, or joining the armed resistance itself. Calling them 'civilians' is a rather misleading term – there were no civilians during the war as far as Nox was concerned.

This was total war – absolute war. Everyone had a place to be and a role to fill. No one was allowed on Dromund Kaas unless they could contribute to the war effort – those who required encouragement might find themselves shackled in the mines. This policy extended throughout the galaxy and those independent worlds who refused to adequately commit to Nox's resistance were outright conquered and subordinated by the Alliance itself. None but the voss were permitted neutrality while Zakuul stood tall. Whether you aided Nox voluntarily or not was immaterial.

All would serve.

All of this created a situation on Dromund Kaas following the bombardment that was impossible to conceive of even years before. Nearly all industry was destroyed, shipyards and hangers had been systematically targeted by the Eternal Fleet, wiping out the possibility of immediate space travel, or the ability to readily build new ships.

Rebuilding anything on Dromund Kaas is a tall order at the best of times.

A resource crisis began almost as soon as the fleet left. The surviving disciples of Darth Nox, foremost among them her surviving wife Lana Beniko, took control of the situation and began their efforts to do as Darth Nox had always done.

Survive.

Through a combination of planning, diplomacy, ruthlessness, sacrifice, and guile, they were able to seize control of Dromund Kaas, eliminate those who were inciting unrest, rebellion, or doubt in their abilities, and bring a certain degree of stability to the world. It was not simple, bloodless, or easy – yet it was done.

This, reader, is the true birth of the Order of Darth Nox.

Order demanded hierarchy, hierarchy demanded enforcement, enforcement demanded a system of rule that could rise to the present needs – and evolve into something capable of rule in the future. It was seen as both a practical need, and an evolution of the Sith structure itself.

First, the disciples oversaw the creation of a new aristocratic class, which was structured in such a way as to ensure their continued dominance. This system would evolve into the Kaasian Nobility, and at its heart, were the children of Nox and Lana, the progenitors of a ruling dynasty that survives to this day.

It was an ambitious plan that stretched many generations before it became solidified, but one that slowly, eventually, evolved into the system that exists today. This is the legacy of Nox, preserved in a way that few Sith can claim. They say the spirit of Nox herself guided them through these early, hard days, as have the spirits of Nox's disciples following their own deaths.

For thousands of years, the Order of Nox slowly rebuilt the world's industry, housing, and temples. The aristocracy became entrenched into a new society, and the system of nobility began to grow in size, with numerous smaller families splitting off as codes of conduct and practical traditions took shape.

The harshness and difficulty of Dromund Kaas slowed development and expansion significantly, limiting their own growth and technological development – forcing them to sustain themselves in more primitive conditions.

Yet they survived, even as they were largely confined to their own world. Tens of thousands grew up, served, and died without ever leaving Dromund Kaas. Still, they were all able to lead fulfilling lives – such as they were, in service to their betters.

They were forgotten by the rest of the galaxy, isolated as they were on the fringes of the Unknown Regions. While some might chafe at the thought of being forgotten to history, it served the Order of Nox well. Where would they be today if the galaxy had remembered? Would the resurgent Jedi simply ignore such a world?

For millennia, Dromund Kaas endured. Its people adapted to the land and their circumstances, thriving where their ancestors had struggled. They no longer worried about survival, and instead shifted their focus towards internal politics and rivalries.

Until one day they were discovered.

Lady Vathila descended upon this most august world with the subtle elegance of a royal procession, one greeted with great enthusiasm by the Aristocracy and their people. Was it chance, or the Force itself guiding her here? Only she could say, and thus far, she has remained silent.

Regardless, she was the first outsider to set foot on Dromund Kaas since the bombardment. It was a stunning discovery – Sith who had not only survived the Dark Age, but were heirs to Darth Nox herself. And of course, our Lady was equally stunning to them, as Dromund Kaas had not entertained a being of such power since Emperor Vitiate himself.

Following nearly a year of diplomatic talks, the Mistress inaugurated the Order of Darth Nox into the Sith Collective, and pledged to support Dromund Kaas and its people in whatever manner they required – an offer they eagerly accepted. For the first time in countless generations, they began exploring their ambitions beyond Dromund Kaas itself, and brought a new era of power and prosperity to the bearers of Nox's legacy.

---

ON NOBLE TITLES AND STATUS

Titles hold a special place amongst our kind, even more so for the Order of Nox. It allows one to convey, with full clarity, who they are and why you should listen when they speak. A single prefix can mean the difference between respect and derision, honor and ill-repute, life and death – should you run afoul of someone of stature.

The Aristocracy is not created equally. This is most clearly conveyed through the myriad of titles the Order employs. It is an effective method of distinction that easily allows one to understand the social structures of Dromund Kaas.

Each social position, from the Commonwealth to the hierarchy of the Aristocracy itself, will be covered in detail – but first, we will review the associated positions and titles.

We will start with those that are universal – those not restricted by social standing, or tied to any specific noble class.

The lowest title a noble can hold is Infante. Generally only given to noble children, it is how they are addressed until they come of age – which, it should be noted, will vary depending on family and species. Infante is also given to cadets of noble families – primarily those who are adopted – and is immediately retired upon reaching adulthood, or if the respective family head judges them worthy.

A couple titles refer to administrative positions that certain nobles hold in the Dromund System. The first is the Viceroy, which is given to nobles responsible for administering a large region of land – often equivalent to a state. It is the highest governorship role a noble can hold. Below this is the role of Baron or Baroness, which is given to those who govern smaller counties or estates – all of whom fall under their respective Viceroy.

Finally, there is a unique title of note: the Altus. It is a relatively rare, circumstantial title which is only employed or bestowed upon individuals who are responsible for leading houses or families of diverse special demographics – in or beyond the family itself.

For this reason, it is often given to wartime leaders, who will usually lead several different houses, or those who have uniquely diverse families which include multiple alien species. House Beniko is one such family which regularly employs this title.

There are no formal requirements to have this title bestowed upon oneself, but it is not something frivolously employed. When it is, Altus is conjoined with any other titles an individual may have (for example, Altus-Arlessa or Altus-Viceroy), the only exception is the head of House Beniko, who is addressed both formally and informally as 'Altus,' rather than 'Altus-Deshyr.' Take note if anyone possesses this honorific – they are almost certainly someone of distinction and worth.

Now, we can move on to the numerous titles of the noble hierarchy.

Beginning with the Gentry, adult members are formally addressed as Heer, a title that denotes them as part of the lesser nobility, but nonetheless above the station of a simple commoner. Families amongst the Gentry are led by an Arl or Arlessa, who speak on behalf of their house.

The Noble Houses themselves are more traditional as far as titles go. The title of Lord or Lady is appropriate for addressing any member of a Noble House, and the heads of these families may be referred to as the respective Duke or Duchess.

The High Nobility introduces some additional complexity to their address. While Lord and Lady remain acceptable to address members of the High Nobility, the head of the family is addressed as Deshyr. The title arose in reference to the landholdings of the High Nobility, as they often encompass entire continents, or 'desh' in the local parlance. Another title unique to the High Nobility is the Dauphin, which is given to the heir apparent of the respective family, and utilized regardless of their gender.

There is also the title of Teryn, which is equivalent in authority and meaning to Deshyr, but is used exclusively by the non-human houses of Xalek and Zavros. The title refers to their shared sovereignty over the Hinterlands – splitting the desh into 'teyrnirs.'

The splitting of the continent – the largest on Dromund Kaas – might, at first glance, appear to be a means of segregating the non-human Great Houses. First impressions are rarely accurate, dear reader. A more nuanced examination will reveal that both houses are apolitical, and both houses operate at the extremes of the spectrum in matters of the Force. There are no official decrees spelling this out, but I suspect they were given these lands specifically to counter one another.

Forgive me my tangent, dear reader, it's a subtle thing I wanted to convey to you before we moved on. Regardless, I have found no instances where the title of Teryn was referenced disrespectfully. They are High Nobility and due all respect on – and off – Dromund Kaas.

Finally, the Royal Family has its own special titles. One can again address members of House Beni'vel as Lord or Lady, but that is the only honorific of similarity to the other noble families. The Crown Prince or Crown Princess is given to the heir apparent – without exception.

Rarely, if the Royal Family wishes to maintain secrecy and privacy of the child, the heir will be referred to as the Crown Sovereign. This has historically only been maintained until the heir reaches their teenage years, and must begin openly preparing to assume the throne.

In circumstances where the Beni'vel Sovereign unexpectedly dies or abdicates the throne, the Prince-Regent or Princess-Regent will rule in their stead in the event that the Crown Sovereign has not come of age. This individual is always either the spouse or closest blood relative of the Sovereign – often a sibling.

They will be responsible for ruling Dromund Kaas and leading the Royal Family in a caretaker role before ceding authority to the Crown Sovereign when they come of age. While on paper they enjoy all of the former Sovereign's authority, there are certain restrictions that come about simply due to Court politics – a Regent will never command the same innate respect as a true Sovereign, no matter how august.

Currently, the Royal Family finds itself in this unfortunate situation, and are presently ruled by the Princess-Regent Copania Drellik-Beni'vel.

And at the apex of this hierarchy is the Prince or Princess of Dromund Kaas. They may also be referred to as the Sovereign of Dromund Kaas. Either mode of address is acceptable, though some Sovereigns have a preference.

This is the highest title one can gain within the Order of Nox, and the greater nobility. This myriad of titles and roles may be confusing, and frankly unnecessary to the average reader – whose interactions with nobility will be distant at best – but if one wishes to understand the complexities of this order, you must understand how they organize and recognize themselves.

Read these titles. Learn them. For through knowledge, comes comprehension.

And if this were a dissertation on Dromund Kaas alone, that's where this section would end. Instead, we must now turn our attention to Dromund Fels, where the Felsian Guilds hold sway. The old colony has its own section further down, but relevantly, it possesses its own collection of titles – though one hesitates to refer to them as 'noble.'

The settled regions of Dromund Fels dot the arid planet's surface like an archipelago, collectively referred to as the 'Bannorn.' Each holding falls under the purview of a 'Bann' – roughly analogous to a regional governor – drawn exclusively from the amalgamated noble families who settled Dromund Fels. Most Banns only claim a single settlement, but others claim small clusters of up to six.

Each individual settlement is administered by a 'Viscount,' who acts as an executive for the city, in conjunction with a pseudo-democratic city council – generally made up of ten members known as 'Soporati.'

This is where things get interesting because it is the only place in Dromund society where commoners are permitted equivalent authority to the Kaasian Nobility. Though I should point out that 'commoner' is woefully inadequate to describe Felsian high society, they are all aristocratic, they simply lack noble blood – at least in sufficient quantities. While this limits them in certain ways, they have prospered mightily in the Bannorn.

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ON THE HIERARCHY OF THE COMMONWEALTH

The Order of Nox is stratified – a statement that will not prepare you for how starkly this manifests.

However, it possesses an honesty that many do not wish to admit; the difference between high and low, the important and inconsequential, is codified into society itself. On Dromund Kaas, all people fall into two camps: they are either noble, or they are not.

Let us discuss the latter first.

The 'Commonwealth of Dromund Kaas' comprises all individuals who live on the territories of the noble families, and serve them to the best of their abilities. This includes laborers, farmers, teachers, engineers, and nearly any kind of job that one can imagine to enable a functioning society.

Of course, there are some internal hierarchies within this framework – one must have some way to determine leaders from followers, and the intelligent from the dull. Yet the details do not matter, do they?

I trust I need not answer this question.

Everyone within the Commonwealth falls under the direct rule of a house of the Gentry or a Noble Family, and are also considered subjects of the Great House which administers their continent of residence. It need not be explained that, as citizens of the Commonwealth, they all ultimately fall under the control of the Royal Family of Beni'vel.

But these are formalities and technicalities, ones that rarely have a direct impact. What does this mean in practice?

Simply put, the Commonwealth citizens directly serve the Aristocracy who directly administers their land. Often, these will be Noble Families who are not of the High Nobility. How they are treated – in terms of laws, expectations, and norms – will differ from family to family, but the efforts of the Beniko Seneschals have worked to codify baselines the nobles tend to follow.

Does this mean that there are no distinctions? That the peasants do not have preferences?

On the contrary, reader. It is well-known that the peasantry prefer the rule of Houses Beniko and Zavros, who are known to be more involved in the administration of their lands, compared to the more distant, harsher sovereigns from Drellik or Xalek.

The remaining Great Houses tend to allow a freer hand to the Noble Families underneath them, which can significantly vary what the citizens experience.

With that said, there are steps the Order of Nox has taken to prevent unnecessary abuses – pain and punishment must serve a purpose after all, and even the harshest noble understands that each individual in their charge is valuable – and the Great Houses do not tolerate waste.

Now, you might wonder what options one has in what seems to be a harsh, predestined, and – one might even say – unfair system? Are those who are born into this lowly caste condemned to languish there forever? Stewing in stagnation and mediocrity?

Certainly not.

Let us remember that no one knows better than Nox that one's station does not determine their worth or fate. Nox rose from a slave to be one of the greatest Sith in our history – but she achieved this because she was worthy. When she proved herself, she took each and every opportunity to climb the lethal ladder of Sith politics.

It is not merely allowed for a commoner to rise above their station, it is expected that those capable will. This expectation, this hope persists, and when these commoners are elevated into the Gentry, others see this, and know how and why they achieved this.

It provides a powerful incentive to strive harder, dedicate oneself fully, and know that they will be rewarded for their efforts.

But it is not easy.

To be noble is to be above the rabble; to prove you are more than your birth would imply.

There is only one path to nobility, and that is to demonstrate not mere competence and loyalty, but how you will benefit the Aristocracy as a whole – and specifically, your patron family. If one can impress a noble, they may be rewarded with elevation to the rank – with an expectation that their benefactor's trust was not misplaced.

Elevation in this way is more common than you might think – for all of the Noble Families are looking for new talent, perspectives, and sharp minds to increase their own standings and curry favor with other Houses – or deny their rivals an asset.

There is a ruthless, cutthroat side to this dynamic that is an open secret among the Aristocracy and Commonwealth alike. You may think that all in the Commonwealth wish for nothing more than to ascend beyond their station, but this is not so, for they know what awaits them should they succeed.

There are citizens of the Commonwealth who have no aspirations. Fear rules their hearts, hesitation freezes their actions, doubt cripples their ambitions. For in the Aristocracy, they see not prosperity, but death.

There can be wisdom hidden in such fear.

As such, it should not be surprising that some are content with their station, and will toil in silence, mediocrity, and obscurity until they die – forgotten, but alive. That is a price some are willing to accept. Others are not, even if they understand this critical truth.

Those who ascend enter a world alien to them, and join a millennia-old game with no conclusion, whose rules they are ignorant of.

They will thrive… or die in the attempt.

---

ON THE GENTRY OF DROMUND KAAS

Sometimes, those of true distinction, talent, and competence emerge from the wretched chaff of the Commonwealth. They gain recognition above their peers, and earn the attention of their betters.

These, reader, are the 'Gentry of Dromund Kaas.'

For every commoner content with their station is another who dreams of proving their mettle at Court. Of engaging in the intrigue that defines the high society of Dromund Kaas. Oh yes, even among the commoners, there are plenty who are ambitious and have plans for what they will do if given the opportunity.

But make no mistake, reader, the Gentry are at the bottom of the Aristocracy. Every elevated commoner enters into this brave new world as an asset. A resource that is employed, expended, and gambled with by nobility greater than they. The Gentry lack a certain agency enjoyed by the more established Houses.

In the bluntest of terms, the Gentry are pawns.

They are selected, elevated, and directed for the benefit of other Noble Families – and even the High Nobility. They are the most expendable of the noble assets; the most disposable, even more than the Commonwealth. For a commoner can never materially threaten the Aristocracy. The Gentry, on the other hand, are a political force – even if small – which can affect the balance of power.

It is an unbalanced, dangerous, and ruthless dynamic between the Gentry and their patrons. Thus, the objectives of the Gentry are twofold.

First, they must obey and execute the will(s) of their patron(s) to the best of their ability. Those who fail to do so will be quickly discarded or unceremoniously sacrificed. Particularly vindictive patrons will humiliate upstarts before purging their bloodlines completely. One cannot rise in the Aristocracy without allies – and the most important ally is one's own patron.

Second, they must survive – no more, no less.

After one reaches a certain status amongst the Aristocracy, it becomes frowned upon to engage in overt interference or arrange accidents – but this understanding does not extend to the Gentry. The Gentry must simultaneously prove they are worth protecting and investing in – while exercising enough intelligence, guile, and strategy to mitigate the enemies they may make by virtue of their patrons.

The attention of the patron is divided, and rarely will they invest everything in one member of the Gentry. It is expected that the Gentry are able to be self-sufficient, and possess some aptitude in avoiding obvious mistakes. If they fail? Then they were unworthy of their new station, and all that entails.

It is a beautiful, poignant system that makes me smile every time I contemplate its intricacies. It is a system in full alignment with what it means to be Sith – the strong, smart, and powerful will prosper, while the unworthy will be cast aside. This is why I warn you to never scoff at the nobles of the Order of Nox.

They are cunning. They are ruthless. They are perceptive. They are all of these things, because they have to be.

Otherwise, they would be dead.

It is simply portrayed in its purest form within the Gentry.

Now, those that successfully navigate this crucible become valued allies to their Noble patrons, and almost always rise to their level, usually through marriage or by accumulating enough wealth and influence to forcibly improve their status in the Court. The latter is far riskier, but offers a certain independence as they are not literally wed to another Noble House.

Still, all avenues available to the Gentry carry risk. Failure is simply not tolerated – and the rule of the Kaasian Nobility would be shaky indeed if such failure was not highlighted and made an example of.

Those who failed their patrons may be stripped of their titles and status in disgrace, and returned to the Commonwealth as dishonored commoners – a social fate worse than death, if the suicide rates are anything to go by.

They may be sacrificed in a fatal scheme, buying one final speck of usefulness with their lives. Others are simply executed. Others still might not fail outright, but fall victim to the schemes of another Noble House or the Gentry – failure is failure, regardless of qualifiers, dear reader.

The Dromund Court is pitiless, and one learns quickly if they possess the mettle and wit to survive. It is scarcely a wonder that the vast mass of the Commonwealth is content with their station – for at least they are likely to keep their lives.

Yet for those who emerge intact, they are well on the path to power, influence, and wealth beyond what they could have imagined before.

---

ON THE NOBLE FAMILIES OF DROMUND KAAS

The next rung on the hierarchy is the Noble Families themselves – above the Gentry, but below the Great Houses of the High Nobility.

It is these Noble Families who are the most versatile, numerous, and, arguably, important of the noble classes as a whole. Equal parts tasker and tasked, the Noble Families of Dromund Kaas support and execute the ambitions, plans, and goals of the High Nobility – primarily manifested by their direct work administering to the Dromund System itself.

Each Noble Family has some direct blood connection, distant as it might be, to the High Nobility, and rarely, the Royal Family itself. Of course, their bloodlines have become severely diluted as a consequence of marriage, adoption, and the elevation of members from the Gentry to prominent positions.

Though if we can be honest, the purity of the Nobles has become less and less important over time, to the point that it is hardly a topic of discussion at all. Yet this lineage remains historically important – for reasons of politics.

The thinned blood does not erase where they originally descended from, even if blood relations are so distant to be inconsequential. This nonetheless has political implications, as these historical connections often determine to whom any respective Noble Family aligns itself with.

Unlike the Gentry, the Noble Families have more freedom and flexibility in how they wish to assert themselves or define their place. Though to be clear – there are no independent Nobles. Everyone, officially or otherwise, is aligned to one of the High Nobility – even if the degree of their support can be symbolic or sincere.

There are several other factors which determine the degree of autonomy they possess. Newly elevated, or smaller Noble Families are more restricted in what they can do without consequence or retaliation, and are usually tightly bound to the interests of a Great House. Larger Noble Houses have more flexibility, and are more willing to push the boundaries, or assert themselves in the Game the entire Aristocracy indulges in.

Though they must take care – one's ambition can easily become their undoing, and the Nobles must be mindful to not exhaust the patience and support of the High Nobility.

No matter how important a Noble Family may think they are, they are ultimately inferior to the High Nobility, and their betters have little issue punishing upstarts that believe themselves above their station. It is one thing to work to undermine or act against a Great House to improve the standing or position of another Great House, for such is the way of the Court. It is a very different thing to challenge the legitimacy and authority of the High Nobility entirely – for if one thing unites the High Nobility, it is ensuring that they will not be challenged.

The choice was made long ago that there would never be any more Great Houses. Thus, ambitious Nobles learned that if they wished to influence and shape the politics of the Court, they needed to become creative.

The ideas are simple, and easily understood. One must grow their family to a respectable size, align themselves to a preferred Great House, and employ marriages, resources, and political capital strategically. If one must arrange the marriage of a firstborn daughter to a High Noble son, or support them in Court in exchange for elevating loyal subjects into the Gentry, these are sacrifices worth making.

Blood connections are the easiest path towards influence – though this comes with certain drawbacks, and ties the Noble Family to the High Noble in question in a way that cannot easily be broken.

Some prefer to keep their options open.

Shifts in alliances or rivalries are not uncommon, particularly among larger Noble Families who have developed reputations of their own. Often, they will raise members of the Gentry under them in a bid to expand their influence and local hierarchy – this makes them attractive allies, though they run the risk of being seen as upstarts. Anyone who might affect the balance of power quickly gains the eye of the High Nobility – it will end badly if they play their hand poorly.

It is a delicate process where failure often means the destruction of the Noble House – but if done competently, strategically, and patiently, it can garner boundless rewards.

But is this all the Nobles do? Plot, scheme, and play politics?

Many do. But this comprises a relatively small part of each respective Noble Family, as it is generally the leaders of the family, and their inner circles, who engage in such politicking. The silent majority work in more conventional roles – administering their domains, and managing their respective Commonwealth citizens.

Unless they are directly within the line of succession, or directly related to the family leadership, it is rare that the average Noble partakes in the grand Game to such a degree. Their concerns are more… worldly. They focus on maintaining supply chains, ensuring deliveries are on time and harvests are successful, and resolving local disputes.

Politics, to them, is more distant, and for their social betters.

Though their lack of involvement is unlikely to protect them should their House's leaders squander their position. Even if one's talent is not political, it is good to keep an ear to the ground.

It could very well save your life.

---

ON THE GUILDS OF DROMUND FELS

Officially, the world of Dromund Fels falls under the purview of the Royal Family, though they had little interest in cultivating the world themselves. Instead, they would lease parcels of land to any with the ambition to settle the arid sphere. The High Nobility had little interest, but those of lower strata saw something long-absent from Kaasian society.

Opportunity.

Alone, none could afford the attempt, but by allying with their peers, their combined capital could be focused on that singular purpose. Managing these resources led to the founding of inter-family corporations.

Centuries of haphazard colonization were beset by calamity and triumph in equal measure, as the lessons of past explorations made themselves obvious. One need only look to previous efforts to see the pitfalls of such adventurism.

Many corporations failed. Ambitious nobles lost everything on their gamble – left to choose between destitution and personal oblivion, many chose the latter. The colonization of Dromund Fels claimed many in the process of its conquest, but those who did not fall to such struggle grew ever stronger with each personal success. They learned, and they thrived.

Of course, the High Nobility took notice of this change in fortune, and many sought to take advantage, but they found themselves stymied by the very success they coveted – the oldest and most robust of the corporations remained standing, and they were unwilling to part with their hard-won gains for the sake of tradition. It is important to remember that while many Felsian efforts failed, there were true visionaries amongst the settlers whose ambition went beyond short-term profit and glory. They sought the formation of a power structure to exist in parallel to the Kaasian Nobility.

One they would be in the center of.

This did not mean their strategy was flawless – some splintered or collapsed. Yet they persevered, and as the population centers grew and the Bannorn took shape, the founding corporations calcified into an indelible aspect of Felsian society and governance. This culminated in the 'Guild Charters,' an official Royal Proclamation which codified their privileges and legally separated them from Kaasian ambitions.

Given all that, it may surprise you to know that the Guilds send representatives to the Dromund Court. I would gently point out that it's called the Dromund Court, not the Kaasian Court. When their inclusion was first proposed, the Kaasian Nobility was in an uproar.

Who were these pretentious upstarts – these common merchants – to demand equal standing with families that have existed since time immemorial? I'll tell you who they were, they were the preeminent economic powerhouse of the Order of Nox and no amount of manicured handwringing was going to stop them from claiming what was theirs by right.

A voice.

They were too powerful to ignore, and they were shrewd in a way uncanny to the blooded nobles at Court, who saw a twisted reflection of themselves in Guild leadership. Thus, they obtained their voice. Still, the Felsians have little interest in Court outside of expanding foreign markets and protecting their economic dominance from outside competition.

They retain a positive relationship with the Royal Family, and will extend to them opportunities and courtesies rarely if ever extended to other families. One wonders if this is out of a traditional respect or pragmatism – as House Beni'vel still retains legal ownership of Dromund Fels itself – or if it is because the Royal Family has not attempted to interfere with the management of the Guilds, simply taking its cut.

Regardless of the reason, the Guilds are, unlike their noble contemporaries, primarily focused on a single goal, and tend to lack the factionalism and infighting that plagues the Aristocracy. Adept at politics they may be, but they appear to understand that their leverage extends only so far – and it is not conducive to wage a prolonged power struggle against the High Nobility.

For they understand that in such a contest, they would eventually be outmatched, even with the Royal Family's backing.

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ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILIES OF DROMUND KAAS

Atop the social hierarchy of the Order of Nox, subordinate only to the Sovereigns themselves, are the Great Houses of the High Noble Families of Dromund Kaas.

Each bloodline is directly traced to the closest disciples of Darth Nox – Beniko, Zavros, Xalek, Shan, Drellik, and Revel. Each of these families wields extensive influence and power over Dromund Kaas, and are primarily responsible for shaping the world, and the Order of Nox, into what it is today.

However, they are not just members of the Aristocracy. Their roles and responsibilities are more extensive than many assume. Each Great House not only directly administers a large region of Dromund Kaas – and the nobles who inhabit it – they are also responsible for a specific sphere of interest that they specialize in.

This organizational structure may sound familiar to you. It is an adaptation of the Dark Council of the Sith Empire, where each member was in charge of a specific sphere of influence within the Empire. Sometimes they were concrete, sometimes more nebulous, but each Councilor exercised absolute authority over their sphere.

There is a similar system here, though the spheres are broader in scope due to the fewer number of families. Their status, resources, and influence allow each Great House to specialize and develop to a degree that none other amongst the Aristocracy could ever achieve.

Nominally, the High Nobility are unified in purpose and mission for the greater good of the Order of Nox, and subordinate to the Royal Family. In practice, it is the High Nobility who are responsible for driving much of the politics at Court, with the influence of the Royal Family waxing and waning depending on who sits on the throne.

Centuries of isolation have allowed for dynamic alliances and rivalries to be forged, broken, and reshaped in a complex and ever-shifting web. Each family of the High Nobility has their own interests, and several seek to be the primary drivers of the direction of the Court, and the Order of Nox. This is the ultimate source of the Game of intrigue and subterfuge – the High Nobility competing for the right to control the future of the Order.

Some are better at it than others – Drellik and Beniko have always been adept players of the Game. Some families have always had a more adversarial relationship with each other compared to others – Zavros and Xalek have been rivals since the beginning, with occasional border skirmishes breaking out where their territories meet. Yet even those who are not as politically savvy, possess their own interests and viewpoints. Sometimes these groups can align – as they tend to be more flexible in their dealings – but in many cases, this is a means to an end.

One particularly amusing factoid when considering the dynamics of the High Nobility is that nearly all of them are distantly related as a result of marriages and adoptions over the millennia. Marriage has long been a reflection and indication of where the High Nobility stands in relation to one another. If one wishes to understand the current dynamics within the High Nobility, one only needs to review the last several decades of marriage agreements to gain a reasonable foundation.

Do not be uncomfortable in this knowledge, the Great Houses are significantly larger than even the largest Noble Family. They comprise hundreds to thousands of members, and as a general rule, tend to marry Nobles or – rarely – members of the Gentry rather than other High Nobles or those from the Royal Family.

Each of the Great Houses will, of course, be elaborated on in their respective sections, but this should provide an adequate overview of their place – and stature – within the Order of Nox.

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ON THE ROYAL FAMILY OF DROMUND KAAS

And now we reach the crescendo of this noble hierarchy, with the Sovereigns of Dromund Kaas themselves – the Royal Family of Beni'vel.

The Beni'vel are the only High Noble Family that claims direct lineage to Darth Nox herself. The bloodline of Nox originates nowhere else, nor is it propagated with any house of the Gentry – no true Beni'vel of Nox's blood would lower themselves in such a way for any reason.

In addition to Nox, House Beni'vel also claims direct blood-lineage to the other Disciples of Nox, particularly her wife Lana Beniko, Theron Shan, and Andronikos Revel. While the respective High Noble Families also claim legitimate blood-heritage, it is well-known that Beni'vel's claim is just as, if not more legitimate – sometimes a source of tension within the High Nobility as they argue if this makes their own position more or less legitimate.

Largely gossip and speculation, even if questions may doubtless chew on the minds of the High Nobility in their quietest moments.

Officially, the Royal Family holds suzerainty over the entirety of the Dromund System. Their authority is vast, their word is as good as law, and their influence is domineering. The Dromund Court is ultimately subordinate to them, and with a word, they can uplift or cast down entire Noble Houses. All of the Aristocracy, to include the Great Houses, pays tribute first and foremost to House Beni'vel.

But, reader, we should both know it isn't quite as simple as that.

There are some Sovereigns who indeed hold absolute, utter, and total power over their lessers. As it concerns the Order of Nox, this is not the case.

While House Beni'vel indeed holds authority over the Dromund System, their direct rule is restricted to the Black Islands – upon which Kaas City and the Court resides – the high seas, and all celestial bodies beyond Dromund Kaas and its moons in the star system, to include Dromund Fels.

Though the actual administration of the Fels colony has been largely ceded to the Bannorn following the successful lobbying of various mercantile enterprises. It was a similar situation with Dromund Kaas's dual moons – Sami and Regi – which were ceded in full to the Great House of Revel and the Vizlavian Guard, respectively.

That particular event is a fine representation of the current state of the Royal Family, and the dynamic it holds with both the High Nobility and the Felsian Guilds.

One can make a strong argument that the power and prestige of the Royal Family has been slowly eroded over time. The Royals are always involved in Court politics, and maintain a dominant voice – but their practical influence varies heavily, depending on the shrewdness, intelligence, and ability of the sitting Sovereign in question.

There are weak Sovereigns, and there are strong Sovereigns. Strong Sovereigns keep the High Nobility in line, and are able to rule without significant challenge to their authority. They tend to hold themselves above the politicking – more concerned with harnessing a united Court, than expanding or solidifying their own power.

Weak Sovereigns are less capable, though not necessarily because they wish to be. Weak Sovereigns are sometimes more interested in partisan politics, favors, and personal power – which leaves them vulnerable to the High Nobility's influence, and results in them commanding less respect from those who are not their allies.

The other kind of weak Sovereign is the one who is simply incapable. One who is easily swayed, outmaneuvered, and undermined without their knowledge. Often, they do not desire this, but lack the intelligence or allies to counter the schemes of the High Nobility.

In either scenario, it often results in the High Nobility exercising greater independence, and focusing on their own ambitions rather than the good of the Order as a whole – either because they have express permission to do so, or do not fear retribution by the Royal Family.

Furthermore, the High Nobility takes advantage of weak Sovereigns of each kind by eroding long-standing customs. The change to the status of Sami – Dromund Kaas's moon – was one of these efforts, when the High Nobility successfully pressured the Princess of the time into ceding her authority. When power is ceded in such a way, it is difficult, if not impossible for it to be regained.

Had the Shaen of the Vizlavian Guard of the time not suggested turning the moon of Regi into a military fortification, it's likely it would have also been ceded to the High Nobility.

There are practical realities that even strong Sovereigns are loath to risk after a period of normalcy, as their concern for stability and unity outweighs restoring their bygone authorities of the past – especially if they can exercise their own authority without issue. Additionally, as established, strong Sovereigns believe their power resides within their utilization of the Order of Nox as a whole – not explicitly the Royal Family.

This is something the High Nobility also understands. They tend not to antagonize strong Sovereigns – out of a concern they may be pushed to exercise their vast powers or decide to strengthen the position of the Royal House in more overt ways.

It is for this reason that the Royal Family and the High Nobility have a relationship that runs the gamut from friendly to tenuous, respectful to disdainful, cooperative to antagonistic. The specifics change; the relationship is dynamic, but it tends to fall into familiar cycles over a period of centuries.

As of yet though, none of the High Nobility has challenged the right of the Royal Family to rule Dromund Kaas, as it is enshrined in law that only a Beni'vel can sit upon the throne. Will this be another long-standing tradition that is broken?

If certain families of the High Nobility have their way, perhaps one day – but they will have only a single opportunity to succeed. For once that line is crossed, there is no going back. And the throne won't always have a weak Sovereign sitting upon it.

The halls of the Dromund Court will run with the blood of the High Nobility if they are careless.

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ON PALADINS AND CHAMPIONS

Within the Aristocracy there are those whose excellence and aptitude is beyond reproach. While in most cases, they remain valued members of the family, and are often given important roles and responsibilities, they are sometimes given additional powers and privileges.

These individuals are known as Champions.

Champions directly represent the family they hail from, and when they speak, it can be assumed that it reflects the position of the family itself. It is a position of significant power and trust, and thus, there is rarely more than a single Champion to a house of the Gentry or a Noble Family.

Notably, this convention does not apply to the High Nobility and Royal Family.

Instead, they employ multiple Champions at any given time – a necessity due to the larger size of their families. This comes at the cost of the role of Champion being slightly diluted. For some families, Champions are chosen and deployed as agents for a specific purpose, rather than recognizing one's exceptionalism.

Now, you might wonder what happens if a Champion starts acting in ways that bring trouble, shame, or disruption to their family?

A simple problem, with a simple solution. The respective head of the family can strip them of their title, and punish them appropriately. This dramatic and immediate consequence usually prevents Champions from gaining certain… ideas, particularly concerning the direction of the family itself.

It is also for this reason that Champions are rarely, if ever, directly in the line of succession outside of the smaller families in the Gentry. Else any power struggle between a family head and a Champion might have a more uncertain conclusion.

In the Gentry, this is not an uncommon occurrence – one the victor swiftly learns from – though the lesson may not be applied next time due to a lack of options. Those who grow their families and expand their influence, will sometimes do so recklessly to ensure they are not forced to entertain such options.

These are the Champions – now let us move to the next special role for the Aristocracy.

The individuals who are known as Paladins hold a very unique role in the Order of Nox, the Aristocracy, and the Dromund Court specifically.

There are those within the Aristocracy who, simply put, take issue with the Game of intrigue and influence the families engage in. Why this happens varies between individuals, and numerous reasons could be cited, few of them important. Suffice to say, such individuals have a tendency to cause issues within their families – a problem that extends from the Gentry to the Royal Family itself.

Thus, a solution was conceived.

Paladins are individuals who effectively renounce their affiliation to their families, and dedicate their lives to the service of the Order of Nox, and the Dromund Court. They are explicitly non-political entities who are tasked with protecting and serving all of the Court, not any individual family.

They each answer only to the Court as a political body, and can only be directed by them. No family can command them, order them, or control them. They are as close to impartial actors as one can get on Dromund Kaas, coming from a myriad of backgrounds at all levels within the Aristocracy.

It is not necessarily as simple as someone deciding to be a Paladin – they must first be submitted to the Court for approval. If the Court accepts their submission, they may join the Paladins – an act that one cannot later take back. Similarly, if a Paladin has demonstrated inappropriate or biased conduct, the Court can strip a Paladin of their title, and punish them appropriately.

Certain ambitious families once attempted to have members infiltrate the Paladins and influence them to a more favorable outlook – something that ended exactly as you would expect.

The Paladins themselves slew these families who attempted to tarnish the integrity of their titles on the express permission of the Court. Similar influence efforts have not been attempted since.

Of course, there is a final unspoken factor at play here – the Paladins serve the Court, and the Court is, on paper, subordinate to the Royal Family. When this was first proposed, there was a quiet concern that the Paladins could become a tool of the Royal Family – but such fears have faded in recent decades as the Royal Family is unwilling or unable to exploit this option.

It is very likely that even if House Beni'vel attempted to directly command the Paladins, they would be refused if the Court did not consent. Yet no one truly knows, and it appears that no one is in any rush to find out.

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ON THE DROMUND COURT

We come to the centerpiece of this web of intrigue, influence, and scheming – the Dromund Court of Kaas City.

The political and social heart of the Order of Darth Nox, the nexus of converging interests, ambitions, and plots that comprise the complex web of alliances, interests, and rivalries that comprise the Kaasian Nobility. One could write dozens of books on the individual stories and histories between the families who partake in Court politics.

The volumes exist, but alas, we have not the time, nor you, I presume, the interest.

Thus, I will focus on what is important.

The Dromund Court does not fulfill just a single role, nor is it a purely symbolic battleground for the Aristocracy. Near the center of Kaas City itself is a towering building, which rivals, though does not eclipse, the Royal Palace. Within its heart is the Court itself – a massive amphitheatre within which is a semicircle of seats, one for each Noble Family, with escalating tiers depending on their status.

At the lowest level are the seats for the Gentry, above these are for the Noble Houses, and at six tiers above them are seats where representatives of the High Nobility sit. And at the outer centerpoint of this semicircle, rising above all others, is where the representative of House Beni'vel sits.

But what, you might ask, does the Court do? What role does it play within the Order?

An important one, reader. A very important one.

The Court fulfills numerous different roles, and its power is flexible, vast, and absolute. It is a congress, courtroom, debate chamber, and mediation body – all as the case may be. It is better to ask not where the Court's authority begins, but rather where it stops.

Ideological and political arguments, criminal cases, appeals for noble favors, official challenges to the authority of families, and individual disputes between nobles are all examples of what can be brought to the Court, either to gain their support, or receive their judgment.

In each instance, each noble is permitted to argue their position on them, and once all questions have been exhausted, they will come to a consensus. This consensus is often not as simple as approval or denial, but instead proposed by nobles themselves. In some cases, it might be a third option which does not satisfy any party, but nonetheless is approved and enforced by the Court.

One can imagine that the Court is exceptionally slow if every noble is allowed to say their piece, but remember that the Court is a battleground for the Game. There are schemes and strategies in play for even the most mundane cases, with nobles speaking or not speaking accordingly.

This is the simple reality of the Court, and how the Aristocracy treats it.

Each case is a plot, each argument is a maneuver, each verdict is a triumph or defeat – depending on who spoke, who presented, and who succeeded. While not every family will use each activity the Court partakes in to their advantage – they will nonetheless employ it, at least some of the time. There are always layers and subtext to pay attention to when any noble speaks within the Court, because there are often multiple audiences listening.

There is continual maneuvering, plotting, backstabbing, and drama that makes any given day of the Court fascinating to watch, as nothing is as straightforward or honest as it seems. Each case or presentation affects the political dynamics and perceptions of the entire Court, shifting entire plans and strategies already in motion.

Ah, I pity those who are tasked with understanding this labyrinth of competing interests, alliances, and histories. Little wonder so many write the Order of Nox off as 'petty infighting nobles.'

Do such people sincerely think these skills cannot be employed in different ways? That people of such ruthless conviction, political cognizance, and basic competence are fools?

You understand how amusing this appears to one versed their intricacies, reader?

Remember this if you encounter such individuals. There is a reason the Order of Palpatine has sent observers to the Dromund Court, for there is much one can learn in it, and I suspect Palpatine himself would admire it.

Now, what about when the Court is not in session? Do the nobles merely depart to their homes until the next day to do this again?

On the contrary, dear reader, for rarely a day goes by without some kind of social event. Parties, banquets, and gatherings are a regular occurrence, for this is when the Aristocracy is allowed to mingle amongst themselves. Where schemes are hatched, alliances are forged, and betrayal is plotted.

These events are for friends and allies to reaffirm their loyalties and commitments, and for rivals to keep tabs on each other. It is for the masterminds to manage votes and objectives, and disruptors to undermine, intimidate, and insinuate to break up plots and tarnish the reputations of their enemies.

Such events are tense, exciting, and essential aspects of the Game.

That this is over a fine meal and excellent wine is only a bonus. It is the second battleground of the Aristocracy, the calm before the storm as it were, as the groundwork is laid before the Court returns to order, and each member sees if their investments, gambles, and plans have paid off – or if a gloriously cascading failure is in their near-future.

I can assure you, reader, there is never a dull moment in the Court. If you happen to attend, merely understand that the smiles are false, the compliments are lies, and you are now the part of a dozen schemes by an equal number of interests – wittingly or otherwise.

If you cannot turn the tables, ensure your own interests, or bow out gracefully before you can be entrapped – reconsider if this is truly where you should be.

Take heed, for if it is not, you will simply be another's pawn – and pawns are meant to be sacrificed.

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ON DROMUND FELS

When one visits Dromund Fels, they see anchorages named for corporate entities. They see amalgamated families found nowhere else in the Order of Nox. They see what ambition wrought once unleashed. Those who dared risk everything for the opportunity to strike it rich in the craggy deserts – those who survived, at least.

How did this come to be?

The sister world to Dromund Kaas was, for many centuries, neglected and ignored by the Sith and residents of Dromund Kaas alike. A sentiment not entirely without reason.

Dromund Fels is inferior to its sister in several ways. It is smaller, less developed, and lacks a strong connection to the Force. It was perhaps doomed to be consigned to irrelevancy from the start, and endure within the shadow of a world far grander and more historic.

Yet there is an undeniable connection between both worlds, and after years of life on Dromund Kaas, it was inevitable that the Order of Nox would eventually look to the only other habitable planet nearby.

During the time of the Sith Empire, Dromund Fels was an afterthought. It was sparsely populated by small settler communities, and held only a handful of symbolic Imperial outposts. Some Sith built small enclaves or homes, but there was never a significant, coordinated effort by the Sith Empire to substantially develop the planet.

A decision I ponder at times. What might have changed if the Dromund worlds were the twin jewels of the Sith Empire? Would it have mattered at all?

Alas, some questions will never receive answers.

Everything within the Dromund System is the exclusive personal property of the Royal Family. This might be confusing given my previous description of Dromund Kaas and the extensive lands controlled by the Great Houses. Technically, this is a case of leasing the land in perpetuity – though if the Royals ever pushed their rights to the land, it might well cause a schism. However, the Aristocracy's influence off-world is notably muted outside the moon of Sami, and thus it all falls under Royal purview.

This is true for Dromund Fels as well. This harsh, arid world has been difficult to tame – though for different reasons than its sister world. While it is not a world of sand, it is a place of limited resources – at least those necessary for habitation. Water is scarce, limiting both sapient habitation and mass agriculture – though efforts have been made to partially terraform certain regions using ice-rich comets.

If you were to visit, you would see dry, rocky scrubland and a shallow, salty ocean that bisects the two great landmasses. And upon these lands you will witness a smattering of enclaves strewn hither, thither, and yon in an archipelago of civilization. Each island of life administered by someone other than the Royal Family.

How did this come to be?

While the world belongs to the Beni'vels, its resources remained largely untapped, as the family focused its efforts on maintaining control of the Court and rebuilding Dromund Kaas – this was also true of the Great Houses, who feared that the financial ruin of an off-world boondoggle would leave them vulnerable.

And so, it fell to the Nobles and Gentry to fill this vacuum. On their own, they lacked the means to finance such a project, but by pooling their resources, they were able to form corporations – the predecessors to today's Felsian Guilds – and fund private exhibitions to explore and lay the groundwork for future colonization.

With the Beni'vels' blessing – and generous loans to fund the initial stages of colonization – the 'Fels Rush' began in earnest. For decades it was the boondoggle the Great Houses had feared, and numerous corporations were shuttered in the attempt. But there were those who persisted in the bleak wasteland they sought to cultivate. They sacrificed, and the Royal Family and the Order of Nox as a whole have reaped a bumper crop. Today the world is dotted with an archipelago of habitation filled with some of the most ambitious people in the galaxy.

As stated previously, this is the Bannorn, where the Felsian Guilds have – through sheer tyranny of will – created immense prosperity in a dusty wasteland no one else wanted.

This prosperity has drawn the attention of the Great Houses, who seek their own cut. Results have been mixed, as there is great resistance from the Bannorn who see it as noble encroachment. As for the Royal Family, they seem content with the status quo, unsurprising, as Dromund Fels has been a great boon to their treasury. The only Great House to make any real gains has been Revel, as their 'down-to-earth' disposition and mercantile pursuits pair well with the frontier Felsian spirit.

I should note, however, that while the Great Houses do not own cities in the Bannorn – as the Guilds jealously guard their holdings – that doesn't mean their presence isn't felt. Ambitious lesser sons and daughters of the Aristocracy can make a name for themselves amongst the Felsians.

In addition to financial and matériel investments, it's easy to spot Beniko Peacekeepers, Zavros Knights, and Revel Machine-Masters. The only Great House that you won't find in some capacity is Xalek – unofficial agreements have largely banned that House and its Executioners from operating on Dromund Fels. Given the mindset of the populace, their presence might create unnecessary unrest. Should the world descend into criminality, that may change, but for now, prosperity keeps it mostly at bay.

Dromund Fels is the frontline of the political proxy war for influence and status between the numerous factions of the Aristocracy. The Kaasian Nobility leverage their wealth to curry favor amongst the Guilds, securing better access to Felsian food exports while denying it to their rivals.

Due to the liquidity in this 'influence market,' regional dominance will shift hands far more regularly than they ever would on Dromund Kaas, which is by design. The Guilds do not tolerate noble dominance of their affairs – a position they maintain thanks to their unquestioned support of the Royal Family.

Dromund Fels is – if you can believe it – even more cutthroat and ruthless than Dromund Kaas. The Felsians treat everything as a business transaction, and they rarely obscure for the sake of decorum. Messages should be clear, lest they artificially distort the market.

Over the centuries, Dromund Fels has expanded from a simple food-producer to the foundation of Dromund intellectual and cultural pursuits. The greatest universities in the system – outside those employed by the High Nobility – are found here, alongside medical research facilities on the campus annexes. They also host the only major industrial efforts to produce holo-tech in the Dromund System. Due to wide-spread silica deposits and a dearth of domestic forests, the Felsians make far greater use of holo-tech than their Kaasian counterparts.

There is a thriving art scene, with domestic cinema to rival anything found in the Core. And there are ranches that produce an endless supply of both domesticated meats and exotic pets that Kaasian Nobility adore.

The Guilds have built a mercantile paradise that injects a much-needed dynamism into Nox's economic pursuits. Dromund Fels is a world where economic war is waged on a daily basis by some of the most ambitious people in the known galaxy.

And what is the price of such ambition? Ruin or reward, there is no middle-ground here, dear reader.

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ON DROMUND KAAS

Dromund Kaas is one of the oldest ancestral strongholds of the Sith. A world of danger, history, and power.

The planet was steeped in the Force long before the first Sith stepped foot on its lands. Some have described it as a Force nexus masquerading as a planet – with its influence shaping every aspect of the world. There is untamed, wild, raw power that was a natural draw to the first Sith colonists.

The power was unharnessed, unguided. Open for exploitation. And so, the Sith did what we always do.

We take what is ours by right.

It is believed that prior to the arrival of the Sith, the Nexus was neutral – in as much as one can label something so primordial – it was merely an untamed power. It was like an animal that lashed out or influenced with little pattern or reason.

Today, there is a more distinct purpose instilled in the Nexus, thanks to generations of Sith influencing it – just as it has influenced us. Its power and focus come from the darkness now, and no credible historian will dispute that the dark side has intensified the natural extremes of the world.

It turned from a world that was merely dangerous, to being a predator in and of itself.

A world known for storms the size of continents, with winds strong enough to collapse towers, which release rain that falls fast enough to bruise. Storms whose torrents drown the unprepared, and whose lightning can vaporize without warning.

A world home to creatures in tune with nature itself – warped as it is. From the vine cats who stalk unsuspecting explorers, to lumbering gundarks more fierce and powerful than their lesser cousins elsewhere in the galaxy. Insects who will swarm and devour the incautious. Swiftclaws who will fly off with unsupervised children. And numerous exotic creatures who tap into the Force itself to terrorize and hunt.

It is a world that actively fights those who settle it. Dense forests that grow and restore themselves with unnatural speed. Mountains that reach into the clouds with unforgiving peaks of jagged granite. Oceans with gaping whirlpools the size of starships, with perpetually rough waters that will push any seaman to their limits – which is to say nothing of the terrors that prowl their depths.

A planet that has evolved to kill you… as it should be.

It is a world of the Sith through and through, whose clouds darken the skies, shrouding the world in a perpetual twilight, broken only by the occasional glow of the cities that cling on even as the world reclaims their edges. How can such a world sustain itself? By the Force and will, reader. Dromund Kaas is alive, and those who fail to understand this will inevitably be consumed by it.

One does not simply live on Dromund Kaas – they survive it, or they master it. A truism that is exemplified whenever one explores the populated areas and takes note of the near-ubiquitous use of wood products. Are you from the Core Worlds, dear reader? Have you ever seen physical paper used outside of the most opulent of settings? It's quite literally everywhere on Dromund Kaas. As are wooden buildings – from the humblest hut to the most imposing skyscraper. Wood is plentiful and cheap, as the forest is reluctant to cede territory to anyone and thus must continually be cut back. This is true for commoners and nobility alike, though the nobles are more likely to dwell within stone and steel domiciles. Nobles can also afford expensive imported holo-tech as opposed to paper, though a generational divide on that issue is well-entrenched, with older generations decrying the 'corrupting' effect of such imports on Dromund culture.

I apologize for that small tangent, dear reader, but it's a detail I adore.

As for Dromund Kaas itself, it is divided into five distinct continents, with islands or island chains around many of them. Each is divided among the Great Houses of the High Noble Families, who – by the grace of the Royal Family and millennia of precedent and tradition – are custodians of their specific territory, and responsible for the nobility who assist in its administration.

We will start in the heart of Dromund Kaas – the Black Islands. Within these imposing stone spires is Kaas City, home to the Dromund Court, and where all of the Aristocracy maintains a presence. It is the only landmass on Dromund Kaas that is directly ruled by the Royal Family Beni'vel, and among its most distinct natural landmarks. It is positioned near the center of several continents, elevated above sea-level. Sharp mountains jut upwards, waves continually crash upon stony walls, and perpetual rainstorms fall upon the dark heart of Dromund Kaas.

To the north are the Sacred Grounds, a continent of significant history to the Sith. It is this region which was the most settled of Dromund Kaas, first by the original Sith explorers, and later by the Sith Empire. It is home to the most developed cities, many ancient archeological sites, and its defining landmark, the Temple of the Dark Lords. It is, one can say, among the most tamed regions of the world. It falls under the custodianship of the High Noble Family Drellik.

Directly to the south is the Hinterlands, the largest continent of Dromund Kaas. It has been systematically explored, settled, and bent to the will of the Order of Nox – no small feat, considering the leviathans that live there. It is known as a more temperate region of Dromund Kaas, though such is a relative term for the world. Custodianship of the Hinterlands is split between the High Noble Families of Xalek and Zavros at the Deo Mountains – with Zavros claiming the world's only savanna region.

To the immediate west of the Hinterlands, separated only by a small river, is the Quarried Lands, home to much of the mineral wealth of Dromund Kaas. Complex mining systems, cave networks, and mountain clusters define its geography. It is the industrial heart of Dromund Kaas – and one of the most dangerous regions to live in when one accounts for the terrain and manual labor which dominates the local economy. It falls under the custodianship of the High Noble Family Revel.

To the far west are the Bloodlands, which is – even to this day – one of the least explored regions of Dromund Kaas. Do you wonder at the name of this place, dear reader? Do you believe it mere melodrama? They say the soil itself is stained red from millennia of failed explorations and colonization attempts. The region is home to aggressive, Force-sensitive wildlife found nowhere else – attuned in a way uncanny.

The animals are just the most obvious danger, as aggressive, thick forests make settlement difficult and treacherous – I can't even think of a single plant in this region that isn't covered in barbs or poisonous to the touch. Finally, almost as an afterthought, the Bloodlands host a particularly nasty weather phenomenon that spans clusters of devastating storms, some of which peel off and ravage the lands to the east.

It is a wretched place, that is miserable to till. That is, until the Bloodlands fell under the custodianship of the High Noble Family Shan. They have tamed this wild place – at least peripherally, with their settlements carving out an oasis along the coast. The Shans have done the impossible, they successfully colonized the Bloodlands. Cities and settlements are few and far between, and allies and rivals of Shan are wary of attempting to assess for themselves if the numbers provided are accurate.

Finally, to the northeast of the Sacred Grounds is the last continent of Dromund Kaas – the Jadian Reach, a continent with the most diversity on Dromund Kaas, in terms of climate and geography. It is the only continent with truly arctic regions, a few unique species of wildlife, and the longest mountain ranges on the planet.

Emperor Jadus built his residence on this continent, hence the name, though the region was never developed beyond his own imposing palace – which fell into disrepair long ago. It contains a respectable amount of natural resources, is moderately dangerous, but comes with its own challenges for any to properly administer. It fell to the custodianship of the High Noble Family Beniko, who have toiled over centuries to turn the Jadian Reach into a thriving region – as much as one can on Dromund Kaas, at least.

Each region has its own troubles, difficulties, successes, and failures. The conquest of Dromund Kaas is a true feat, and they have done more than even the Sith Empire achieved in its prime. Let none call the Order of Nox a people who are merely isolated and soft – for such people cannot tame a world such as this.

And yet, despite these successes, much of Dromund Kaas remains untamed and unsettled. Perhaps it never will be, even if the Order of Nox understands now what to do.

For any proper Sith, it is owed to yourself to visit this world at least once, for my words alone cannot do its justice. You must feel the power of this world, savor its hunger, and bask in its desire – only then will you understand and appreciate Dromund Kaas, and what it requires to live in such a place.

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ON THE TEMPLE OF THE DARK LORDS

It is impossible to speak of Dromund Kaas without also covering perhaps its most historic landmark: the Temple of the Dark Lords.

It has been highlighted that Dromund Kaas is steeped in the power of the Force, and indeed, this was what drew the first Sith settlers. As they searched and sought for the source of this power, eventually they found the world's Force Nexus, and naturally, began the construction of a temple atop it.

It was the Sith Lords Pharshol and Vacuus who spearheaded this effort, bitter rivals who intended to harness the power of the Nexus to use against the other. Numerous other Sith were recruited for this cause, and despite many challenges, they did successfully construct what would become the Temple of the Dark Lords – often shortened to the 'Dark Temple' by laymen.

I confess there is some irony in the fact that despite their ambitions, neither Pharshol nor Vacuus was able to achieve their ambitions, and each died obsessing over the power they were sure to one day possess.

Take heed, reader, that your pursuit of power does not turn into obsession.

They were not the first to succumb to the madness of the Dark Temple, nor would they be the last.

For centuries after their deaths, the Dark Temple was the center of Dromund Kaas. Sith lived, studied, and died as they sought to understand and harness the raw power of the Nexus – unknowingly fueling its obstinance. Each Sith who perished within its stone halls strengthened the Nexus, and formed a gestalt of will that haunted the Temple grounds.

Soon, it crossed a threshold that even the most learned and powerful Sith were not immune to. Sith began degenerating into madness and obscurity as the Temple overpowered them – as the spirits within were not silent, nor idle.

They whispered from beyond the veil – with a myriad of motivations. Some sought revenge on rivals, others merely wished to possess the living to walk the corporeal lands again.

In death, spirits pursued their vendettas, fueled by the raw emotion the Sith were unknowingly feeding them, empowered by the myriad of sacrifices offered in the vain hope of knowledge or power. The Dark Temple was not a place of rest or learning, but soon became a battleground for the spirits of the dead, fighting over the spoils within – which in this case, were the living.

Such was the ignoble fate of the first Sith on Dromund Kaas, and the Dark Temple fell into obscurity and disrepair after the spirits subsumed those within – for what need did the dead have for a well-maintained home? What few Sith escaped the madness quickly departed the cursed world, for there was nothing left for them.

And that, reader, is how it remained for centuries, until the return of the Sith, heralded by Emperor Vitiate.

Upon the Sith's triumphant return to Dromund Kaas, interest immediately fell upon the Dark Temple once again, and a small army of Sith archeologists and scholars eagerly descended upon it – with their entourages of servants and slaves.

Like their predecessors, they too sensed the power within, and sought to harness it for themselves – and for the good of all Sith, of course.

It pains me to acknowledge how predictable we can be at times.

It went exactly how you would expect.

Undisturbed for thousands of years, the spirits of the Dark Temple did not take kindly to these new interlopers, and in the interim period, one spirit had risen above the others and held dominion over the Temple grounds. The Sith, naturally, dismissed the demands and warnings of the long-dead Sith Lord Kallig – few would live to regret such hubris.

Harnessing the power of the Nexus, Kallig broke the minds and souls of those who had intruded on his domain. Hapless Force-blind slaves and soldiers, trained Sith Lords, and even learned scholars – all became his pawns. Kallig began sharing the spoils with the spirits aligned to him – even as the rival spirits sought to make their own moves.

Now, the name should be familiar to you, and Kallig was indeed a distant ancestor of Darth Nox. It is not fully known why Nox entered the Dark Temple, as it is unlikely she was sent to pacify the spirits within – the Empire had largely written off the entire region and were focused on other matters.

Nonetheless, her actions within the Dark Temple disrupted the balance of power within the Temple. Kallig no longer haunted his tomb, but that did not mean the Temple was at peace. Still, her actions permitted Sith Sorcerers – masters of spirits and the dead – to begin the arduous task of pacifying the Temple.

They succeeded, and for the first time, the ubiquitous shrieks and moans of the Temple grounds were replaced by whispers. With the Dark Temple calmed, work began on restoring and converting it into a shrine to Emperor Vitiate himself, whose Voice would briefly inhabit it and conduct studies and experiments within.

Details for a different story.

This is its history – but what has become of it? What place does it hold in the Order of Nox?

In some critical respects, little has changed. The Temple of the Dark Lords, as it is formally called, remains as the center of the Force Nexus of Dromund Kaas – and thousands of spirits are said to roam its stone halls, and tread upon the damp grounds. Citizens are warned away from the Temple grounds, as the spirits are fickle, and can easily overpower a wayward mind.

The Temple suffered significant damage following the bombardment from the Eternal Fleet, but after it was granted to House Drellik, they undertook significant efforts to restore it to glory – and even expand upon it.

Since its restoration, all members of distinction within the Order of Nox have been entombed within. Figures critical to its founding and history have also been laid within, including Lana Beniko, Xalek the First, and Ashara Zavros – their spirits are said to still linger in their tombs.

Ah, you wonder why the Jedi and her kin were buried in a place steeped in such darkness?

Yes, this is worth some elaboration.

Burying Ashara Zavros was done at her own request – despite knowing the nature of the Temple. She was said to claim that she would extend a veil of protection over all her people who were buried near her – watching over their spirits, and allowing them a peaceful transfer into the Netherrealm.

There is a place deep within the Dark Temple that is described as a place of tranquility, where the spirits do not linger – but for one. Supposedly, the spirit of Ashara Zavros remains vigilant over this part of the Dark Temple, a guide to the departed who helps them navigate to the beyond, instead of enduring the purgatory that would otherwise await them.

But this is merely rumor, reader, though a curious one nonetheless.

Today, the Temple is maintained by the Prophets of the Dark Lords, savants and Force-users of House Drellik, who have devoted their lives to the preservation of the Dark Temple, and the minds and knowledge who rest. It is because of their diligent work that the spirits remain calm, and it is they who listen to the whispers of the dead, so that they may inform the living.

I know you have questions, reader.

Patience.

All will be revealed soon.

It is for these reasons, and because of this history, that the Temple of the Dark Lords remains one of the most important landmarks on Dromund Kaas. Distinguished nobles of all families know that it is the Dark Temple where they will one day be buried, and where their spirits will join the march of the dead.

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ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF DRELLIK, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF KNOWLEDGE

If there is a single family who best exemplifies the High Nobility, it is almost certainly House Drellik, which had been a longstanding member of the Imperial Aristocracy well before the Dark Age. Talos himself was a lesser member in comparison; an archeologist within the Imperial Reclamation Service specializing in artifacts of the Force.

But he was still an aristocrat, and the environment was a natural one for him.

While Talos himself preferred direct work in the field, he, more than any of Nox's disciples, possessed the aristocratic spirit that would eventually flavor the Order of Nox. An accomplished scholar, a practical field researcher, and with a mind for study and bureaucracy alike, Talos became instrumental in organizing Nox's work within the Sphere of Mysteries, turning it into one of the largest archeological organizations in the galaxy.

However, he was also Nox's connection to the Imperial bureaucracy and the Imperial elite, which allowed her to build, maintain, and employ political support within the Empire itself as her power base expanded. Talos proved as adept in advising her in matters of politics as he was in explaining to her an ancient relic of the Je'daii or rakata.

Talos was more oriented to the scholarly side of his talents, but the Great House that bears his name encompasses the totality of his experience. House Drellik are known as the scholars and archaeologists of Dromund Kaas, whose domain extends to all matters of history and the Force.

It is they who are charged with unearthing ancient knowledge, chronicling the story of the Order of Nox, and unraveling the remaining mysteries of the Force – and on Dromund Kaas, reader, there are more than you might think.

Yet in addition to all of this, Drellik is a very political family. They maintain a bureaucratic talent that allows them to administer their own lands effectively without relying on lesser nobles or the Beniko Seneschals. Something that House Beniko dislikes, but has little grounds to dispute.

Many in Drellik are as much politicians as scholars, they are interested in building connections throughout the Aristocracy, employing and withholding favors when appropriate, and forming alliances to achieve their ends. They know the dynamics of the Dromund Court exceptionally well, and are one of its most dangerous players as a result. They exert their influence in numerous places across the Dromund System, from directly in the Court, deals and arrangements with nobles themselves, or through groups that they control, such as the Prophets of the Dark Lords.

Notably, they are the strongest allies at present to the sitting Princess-Regent – though do not mistake this for altruism, in truth, she is a Drellik herself. Today, Drellik finds itself in a very strong position– and they are doubtless assessing how best to turn it to their advantage.

Their ambitions are high, and they will not settle for anything less than victory.

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ON THE ANTIQUARIANS OF DRELLIK

Drellik's history is rooted in the study of the artifacts of the Sith, the Jedi, and ultimately, the Force itself. This legacy is one Drellik has wholeheartedly embraced, and there remains much history buried across the Dromund System.

Drellik Antiquarians are responsible for the research, study, and care of all artifacts found on Dromund Kaas. Their repositories and museums are filled with everything from stone tablets to pieced-together writings of Sith Lords, as well as more recognizable artifacts such as lightsabers, holocrons, and armor.

They also handle objects touched by the Force whose origins are unknown, and thoroughly document all their findings in multiple forms of media – a relative rarity on Dromund Kaas. They are not, strictly speaking, scientists, but when it comes to the Force, they are considered the foremost academic body.

Do not scoff too hard, reader – the Antiquarians are a respected academic body in the Collective itself, no small feat considering their millennia-long isolation. They've also pieced together the most accurate histories of various Sith – known and unknown – who resided on Dromund Kaas.

So respected are they that other Orders in the Sith Collective have consulted with the Antiquarians, and even allowed them to study certain artifacts of their own, or compare findings. The Orders of Jadus, Vitiate, and Revan have engaged in such a capacity. Since their integration to the Collective, and access to modern technologies, they have expanded their capabilities and quality.

They do not discriminate when it comes to the Force – Sith, Jedi, Zakuulian, Quabular, they have an interest in all things related to the Force, even if their primary body of work concerns the Sith. More specifically, an Antiquarian is someone who specializes in a particular field of study or subfield – Antiquarians can specialize in certain Sith like Nox or Jadus, unique groups such as the Cult of Revan, or even locations of power such as the Kaas Force Nexus.

Generally, the larger the body of work is on a specific group or individual, the greater the likelihood that an Antiquarian will specialize in it. While often the Aristocracy does not have a great need for them, outside of the ones that chronicle the history of the Order of Nox itself, the body of knowledge they have amassed should not be understated.

Especially when it concerns more practical discoveries on how to employ the Force itself – knowledge which Drellik is sometimes inclined to keep to themselves.

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ON THE SORCERERS OF DRELLIK

If one asked Talos Drellik if his descendants would have one day been able to wield the Force as many of the Sith he studied had, he would have been ecstatic, if surprised. The combination of innate talent and the use of esoteric rituals culminated in the Sorcerers of Drellik.

Admittedly, Drellik does not have many Force-sensitives, even fewer than House Revel – but all who are born into the family are expected to do great things. What they do depends on how powerful they are – those weaker in the Force will devote themselves to the Antiquarians.

Those of power become Sorcerers, and gain the ability to bend the Force in ways no other family can match.

One cannot overstate how much ancient knowledge Drellik has at their disposal. They have the relics and writings of many of the greatest Sith of the era. Do not forget that this was the capital of the Empire, and while Korriban was the ancestral heart of the Sith, even the sacred texts and writings had copies made and stored on Dromund Kaas.

Relics that are now in the possession of Drellik.

The power they are rumored to hold is extensive, reader. It is believed House Drellik has the knowledge of the Force Walker rituals that Nox herself employed. It is also rumored that some of Vitiate's writings provide hints to the infamous Nathema Ritual. This is to say nothing of more obscure rituals that are known to decimate entire continents, exterminate armies, and render lands uninhabitable.

This, reader, is what the Sorcerers devote themselves to mastering.

Exactly what the Sorcerers are capable of is a subject of vigorous debate, yet what is known is that they are among the most powerful Force-users in the entire Order of Nox. They are masters of old and contemporary Sith Sorcery, and nearly all are committed to the dark side – as it should be.

There are a small few who attempt to learn what Jedi and Zakuulian rituals are known, but knowledge on those is far more scarce, and those Sorcerers who eschew the dark side often must develop their own rituals. However, one is more likely to find diverse study of the Force amongst the Antiquarians – not the Sorcerers.

This is a fine transition into one particular talent of the Sorcerers – they are not reliant on what has already been discovered, but actively work to research and develop their own complex rituals. It has resulted in them wielding powers in ways that have never been recorded – their secrets known only to them.

Sorcerers are rare within House Drellik, and considered the elite of the family for obvious reasons. This results in each possessing direct influence over family operations and decision-making. While they do not often emerge in public – barring the Deshyr who is nearly always the most powerful Sorcerer of Drellik – they are very involved in the political schemes of their family, and pull strings from behind the scenes.

Their sorcery has spawned a multitude of conspiracy theories and rumors – that Sorcerers can hijack minds, implant memories, and unknowingly create spies throughout the Aristocracy. Much of what surrounds the Sorcerers is fearmongering, which the High Nobility tends to ignore – but the reputation of the Sorcerers has stuck.

It is one that does serve Drellik in some capacity, and they are willing to lean on their reputation where appropriate.

They are never one to pass up a political advantage, after all.

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ON THE PROPHETS OF THE DARK LORDS

The Temple of the Dark Lords falls under the custodianship of House Drellik, and one might assume that it falls to the Antiquarians to maintain it. While they certainly maintain a presence in the Dark Temple, in actuality, it is maintained by a dedicated group within Drellik known as the Prophets of the Dark Lords.

The Prophets are individuals who wear simple black robes, shroud their faces, and rarely carry weapons – but all are at least moderately strong in the Force. They exclusively tend to the grounds of the Dark Temple, and inhabit the Dark Temple at all times, barring their brief excursions when the Aristocracy has need of them.

They are aware of – or directly facilitate – everything that happens in the Dark Temple.

Be it communing with spirits, initiating death rites, or warding off visitors, the Prophets have an important role and place in the greater Order of Nox. They keep the spirits calm, commune with them regularly, and gather their wisdom, knowledge, and power before sharing it with House Drellik for dissemination.

The Prophets gained their name not because of any ability to predict the future, but rather because they consider themselves the mortal voice of the spirits. Each Prophet is an accomplished medium, and able to easily commune with the dead, be it through rituals or merely speaking to a manifested spirit.

A historical point of interest, reader, is that the Prophets were an organic development, and not originally planned by Drellik. Originally, it was indeed the Antiquarians who maintained custodianship, and over the decades, they came to this perspective of their own accord, and adopted a role similar to what the Prophets hold today. Initially, Drellik feared they had been possessed.

While many families would have taken… measures, Drellik instead saw value in their endeavors, and integrated them into the family as a wholly distinct sect.

Some within the Aristocracy question if the Prophets are truly controlled by Drellik, or if they are a dangerous cult that is de facto autonomous. The Prophets often insist on spreading the words of the deceased, and there are families who take this seriously. Some will occasionally ask a Prophet to communicate with a deceased ancestor buried in the Dark Temple and convey their words.

The more entrepreneurial amongst you might see how this would be open to abuse. Though profit is an amorphous concept when dealing with such esoteric sects.

The Prophets are viewed with a cautious respect by the High Nobility, despite a lingering suspicion that the Prophets have their own agenda. The influence of the Prophets is not traditionally political, but their words do have weight, and their power is also extensive.

They are an atypical group, one to acknowledge and be wary of simultaneously. The Prophets of the Dark Lords may not be inherently malicious, but one must tread cautiously around those who speak with spirits.

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ON DESHYR HIDWAR DRELLIK, SORCERER SUPREME

There are many words you could use to describe Deshyr Hidwar Drellik. Sorcerer, politician, noble, charismatic. Most of them would be correct, as Hidwar's manner and appearance cut an elegant, if stereotypical, aristocratic flair. However, each such description offers a different insight into who he is.

It can lead to incorrect assumptions – something the Deshyr knows full well.

Hidwar possesses significant, tangible power. Such that it can be felt in his presence, expressed as a subtle weight compressing the shoulders and chest. Nonetheless, he often downplays his talent in the Force, quite convincingly at that. Ah, a practiced silver tongue is the most dangerous appendage, dear reader.

Hidwar almost certainly possesses knowledge of numerous rituals of the dark side – likely inventing his own as well. Yet his power is not flaunted, if anything, he would prefer people not notice. A shrewd calculation, as a brute's power – and weakness – is displayed for all to see, while the truly dangerous are hidden in plain sight.

Considering the macabre rumors surrounding what the Sorcerers are capable of, it is perhaps understandable that Hidwar would try to present a friendlier image. His robes are of lighter colors, his face is never hidden by a hood, and his natural charm and charisma is often enough to disarm those he speaks with.

Despite his accolades as a Sorcerer, it is better to understand him as a politician. One who is deceitful, ambitious, plotting, and determined.

I do not say any of this as an insult – merely to highlight the fact that Hidwar is one of the most politically-savvy and experienced actors within the Court. Moreover, he possesses the most formidable talent of any political operator: patience. He has spent decades steadily maneuvering House Drellik into a position of unprecedented power and influence.

An impressive feat, considering the historic dominance of Shan and Beniko within the Dromund Court.

The steady downfall of the Royal Family Beni'vel, and the death of Prince Arlon, has presented an opportunity, swiftly seized. The Princess-Regent is his granddaughter, and he has been using this familial connection to gain trust and support, and steadily maneuvered Drellik to being the strongest ally of the Royal Family, successfully pushing out Beniko.

Yet this is almost certainly a means to an end – for Hidwar believes that continued rule by Beni'vel has led to stagnation. He believes that between Drellik's mastery of the Force, wealth of knowledge, and the insight from the Prophets, the Order of Nox deserves a new leader.

A family that is his, and a man that is him.

He is a competent, talented, and dangerous man whose political instincts and schemes rival the Shan in their complexity, giving them real competition for the first time in generations. Hidwar's ultimate endgame, concerning what he might do should he succeed, is likely only known to him and a few trusted Sorcerers.

It is no secret that he sees himself as Nox's true successor, and with the rituals at his disposal, one cannot discount the possibility that he will emulate her in a more… direct manner. No one since Nox has attempted to utilize the Force Walker ritual, and bind spirits in a similar way.

It is possible that Hidwar intends to break this taboo, especially if he intends to take… measures should his influence over Beni'vel be threatened. The utilization of such a ritual would be a dangerous gambit – but if he could indeed contain the power, history shows us what Nox was capable of.

If the Aristocracy would accept such a turn of fate is uncertain. Yet it's plausibility cannot be discounted or denied – destiny waits for no one, especially when individuals believe they are owed such power and authority.

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ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF XALEK, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF DEATH

If there exists a pariah among the High Nobility, it would almost certainly be House Xalek. Their Sphere of Custodianship does not mince words when it comes to their authority and power. Their role is death, no more or less.

Xalek is perhaps the most insular family of the High Nobility, tending to their own affairs first and foremost, while eschewing traditional Court politics. This is not to imply they are apolitical – but they do not see themselves as political leaders or schemers. Rather, they are the blades and lethal retribution of the Court, and the High Nobility, as a whole.

It is they who manage the messy necessities of rule that the other nobles dislike sullying their hands with. This is why they rarely involve themselves in the myriad schemes at Court. Thus, death is their calling, and through its application, they ensure the grip of the Aristocracy over the Order of Nox remains strong.

House Xalek continues the lineage of Xivhkalrainik – known to history as 'Xalek the First,' who served as Nox's personal assassin. He was a powerful wielder of the Force, and skilled in its employment to shroud, infiltrate, and assassinate. All of within House Xalek are trained in some form of the shadow arts, as all of them are Force-sensitive, though the individual potency varies. Statistically speaking, universal sensitivity is unlikely to be a natural occurrence… make of that what you will.

The kaleesh population on Dromund Kaas has sustained itself through the centuries thanks almost solely to the efforts of House Xalek, whose success has been so extensive that today there are several kaleesh noble families who can trace their lineage to Xalek. Notably, the kaleesh are one of the only species whose members number as nobles without exception. There are no kaleesh of the Commonwealth. There are no failures, outcasts, or disgraced – as they are killed before Xalek would suffer the shame of one of their own joining the ranks of commoners.

The Sphere of Death that they hold custodianship over pertains to the reach of the Court and Royal Family to act as sovereigns over Dromund Kaas. Should the Dromund Court demand the death of an individual for any reason, it will fall to Xalek.

Such is their desire. Such is their calling. Such is their lineage.

They make examples of those who challenge the Aristocracy, those who seek to undermine it from within and without. They hunt and exterminate without mercy. They execute and murder as demanded. Their hands are stained with blood, and their reputation inspires terror and loathing – they would have it no other way.

There is a diverse range of viewpoints, as it pertains to the Force, amongst the High Nobility – House Xalek has no such division. They are wielders of the dark side, now and forever.

Just as it should be.

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ON THE SHADOW HAND OF XALEK

Wearing the famed and feared bone masks of white, over which are cloaks and hoods of obsidian that cover their heads, the Shadow Hand of Xalek is the enigmatic group that rules the family itself, and executes the will of the Court.

Rarely are they identifiable by sight alone. Each member of the Shadow Hand wears only a simple black robe with an obscuring hood. Their bone masks are devoid of any markings. Their only visible weapon is a double-bladed lightsaber – though they often hide an assortment of smaller knives and blades on their person.

But few will even notice these basic details, for that implies the Shadow Hand will let themselves be seen at all.

They are masters in the art of subterfuge and infiltration. They bend the Force to render themselves invisible to the naked eye, or affect the minds of the living to simply forget their presence. The most powerful of the Shadow Hand are said to have a presence so strong it actively erases them from the perceptions of weaker minds.

They are assassins first and foremost; hunters and predators with few peers. An invisible, encompassing hand of death that has no other purpose than to remove those who have earned the ire of the Court or Aristocracy – by an overt or subtle hand.

To call the Shadow Hand mere assassins does them a disservice. It implies a lack of skill, an absence of technique or guile. No, the Shadow Hand are not feared because their work is obvious – there are better options for such tasks. They are feared because it isn't. For much of the prowess of the Shadow Hand is from speculation and rumor, as much as confirmed actions.

Does this mean their reputation may be exaggerated?

Perhaps.

But would you take that chance?

The Shadow Hand can and has been used to send a clear message to the enemies of the Aristocracy and the Royal Family. They are primarily directed against Nobles who have become a bit too ambitious or clever for their own good, or other traitors within the Court. Their talents are often not employed against the rabble-rousing commoners – though there are rumors that the Shadow Hand has acted against non-nobles at times.

It is also speculated that the Shadow Hand has more than a few of their number off-world, spying and watching various targets. Though if this is at the direction of the Court, or an initiative by House Xalek itself is difficult to say. Never forget that they have their own agendas, even if they are private.

With the backing of the Court, their resources to engineer the perfect death are extensive, and they exploit this advantage to the best of their ability. Even the Assassins of the Order of Nihilus have expressed their admiration for the techniques and professionalism employed.

The usage of the Shadow Hand, especially among those not inherently dissident, is an oft-debated and controversial topic of conversation, even within the Dromund Court. Officially, the Shadow Hand is only used against the enemies of the Royal Family and Dromund Court. Unofficially, more than a few wonder how House Xalek is truly utilizing their master assassins.

A question, reader, that is perhaps best left to the imagination – for we know that Xalek is unlikely to share the truth willingly.

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ON THE EXECUTIONERS OF XALEK

If the Shadow Hand is the blade in the dark, the Executioners are employed without ambiguity. They are the mailed fist of the Order of Nox, those who are sent to arrest or execute on the spot those who would challenge or dissent.

Some might call them a kind of law enforcement, but that is not representative of their role. They are not law enforcement or peacekeepers – they are, as their name highlights, executioners. In the earliest days of the Order, their name was more ambiguous and idealistic – they were Judges. Later, this was changed to reflect reality, as Xalek is a pragmatic house with little use for melodrama.

They are often among the most physically capable of House Xalek, and are defined by their weapon of choice: a long-bladed vibroblade they carry at all times. Their bone masks are marked with family and personal symbols. Armor of black and silver covers their bodies, and they are often equipped with blaster pistols or explosives as secondary weapons.

While the Shadow Hand is usually dispatched against nobles who have erred, the Executioners most often deal with upstarts and dissidents in the Commonwealth, where no delicacy need be employed. If there are ever any rebellions, strikes, or open defiance of any noble family, the resolution of such calamity will undoubtedly fall to the Executioners.

Their only restriction is that they must receive an invitation from the respective family – something that is easily given, for few wish to parley with the rabble. When the Executioners come, there is no negotiation conducted. No requests for surrender are given. No offers of leniency.

That is not what they are for. They are the bloodied hammer of the Aristocracy, and order will be restored through wanton violence.

They are among the most hated and feared of any of the High Nobility by much of the Commonwealth, especially within the lands directly administered by Xalek where they openly patrol the streets alongside Beniko Peacekeepers.

The Executioners are well aware of their reputation, and it does not bother them in the slightest. Indeed, they revel in it. An acklay does not concern itself with the opinions of lemnai. That some nobles, even the High Nobility, actively do not associate with them is a mark of pride.

Pray you do not draw their attention; else you may find yourself on the other end of their weapons.

---

ON TERYN NYRMA XALEK, FIRST KNIFE OF THE SHADOW HAND

House Xalek has always been directed by the leader of the Shadow Hand, who is bestowed the title of First Knife, and understood to be the most proficient and powerful of the Xalek assassins. Each leader is expected to be just as worthy and capable as Xalek the First was in his service to Nox – a standard House Xalek has strictly held themselves to for millennia.

Teryn Nyrma Xalek is, like many leaders of the family, one of the most shrouded and unknown members of the High Nobility – cloaked in rumors and speculation rather than fact. No one outside Xalek knows exactly how she rose to become the First Knife, but she commands authority and deference from the others that cannot be merely bestowed – only earned.

Her skills in the Force are extensive. While she will often attend the various engagements the Court holds, she can often be found in the shadows, observing and studying, letting herself fade into the background with few the wiser before slipping away seamlessly only to reappear the following night.

She is the only member of the Shadow Hand whose bone mask is marked with the blood-red patterns that identify House Xalek – and directly echo the markings of Xalek the First. This exception only exists for the First Knife, who is no longer expected to carry out the work of the Shadow Hand, even if they are expected to keep themselves sharp. She wears nothing more than the standard outfit of the Shadow Hand, with her lightsaber never out of reach.

If one wishes to gain the assistance of the House Xalek, it is done through her. She personally meets and ratifies agreements and treaties with all noble families, pertaining to the usage of the Shadow Hand and Executioners, as well as the Court itself. For this reason, her patronage and approval are sought after, even while she is viewed with wariness and fear even among the High Nobility.

With how extensively Xalek is embedded throughout the Aristocracy thanks to these agreements, there has always been suspicions about the ambitions of the family, as they have kept themselves removed from the ever-present political spats that arise at Court. Nonetheless, their web of influence is extensive – should they ever decide to leverage it.

Thus far, they have not, and it appears that Nyrma is content to maintain this status quo. If she holds any greater ideas or ambitions, they are known only to her.

---

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF ZAVROS, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF LIGHT

We come to a family of certain distinction within the Order of Nox – House Zavros.

They stand out within the Aristocracy for several reasons. The first – and perhaps the most important – is that they are the only family of the High Nobility which explicitly eschews the politics and intrigue of the Dromund Court. Instead, they asserted their duty was towards promoting the harmony and security of the Order of Nox and the Aristocracy.

In comparison, their own political aspirations were unimportant.

As a result, they effectively function as an apolitical party within the Aristocracy. Officially, they are neutral on all political matters, and hold loyalty solely to the Royal Family of Beni'vel. While they hold seats in the Court, they abstain as a matter of principle – unless directed by the Royal Family, generally on matters that affect the entire Order.

They are the only other family of the High Nobility that is dominated by a single non-human species – while not all togruta on Dromund Kaas are part of Zavros, a majority are, and all togruta-majority nobility is connected in some way to them. However, they are not purely togruta, as there is a human minority within the family.

Their political reach is practically nonexistent. The schemes, plots, and intrigue that dominates the Court is not only against their nature, it is outright forbidden by their family creed. It is essential for the roles they perform that they are perceived to be unbiased – that they maintain the trust of those who seek their intervention, mediation, and judgment.

Practically speaking, this is why Zavros distinguishes itself.

The second reason is that they are Jedi.

A bold accusation, reader, but you doubtless wonder if it is true.

I confess to some hyperbole – but only some. It is unclear how the modern Jedi Order would interpret House Zavros, though they likely wouldn't call them 'Sith' out of hand.

It is more accurate to say that they are descended of Jedi, and take inspiration from the tenets and beliefs of the Jedi Order – the one that was contemporary with the Eternal Empire.

Traditional Jedi, they were not, and there is a certain misconception that these Jedi who worked with Nox resembled those of the Old Republic. This is not, strictly speaking, true. While they certainly were originally more traditional Jedi, by the end of Zakuul's conquest, tens of thousands of Jedi were dead, hundreds were driven underground and scattered, and any Jedi leader of note was dead.

The Jedi who were left often had little more than a lightsaber at their side – and an enemy slowly enveloping them.

Like any precious jewel, these Jedi were placed under pressure – where they either broke and died, or hardened themselves to the harsh galaxy they found themselves in. I would not say they fell, as Jedi oft claim when any deviate from their dogma, but they changed. Weary, hardened, pragmatic.

The false idealism the Jedi preached, already fading as war against the Sith Empire progressed, was ultimately shattered once Zakuul invaded and occupied their homes. The Hero of Tython had died to their Emperor. The Barsen'thor had left the Order. The Jedi Council was killed by Zakuul. There were few choices.

They could struggle for an Order that was dead, or they could adapt.

So they did.

It was no longer the Sith who were carrying out assassinations, organizing insurgencies, and hijacking ships for weapons and supplies – it was bands of Jedi, many of whom were acting independently of each other, who orchestrated a thousand rebellions across a thousand worlds.

Their tenacity and conviction are worth acknowledging. And slowly, as insurgencies spread, and rebel groups contacted each other, this new breed of Jedi began to regroup – and eventually, one emerged to become their leader. In the absence of the masters of old, one Ashara Zavros rose to prominence – a Jedi who had worked directly with Darth Nox throughout her rise and even afterwards.

The exact relationship Ashara and Nox had is a subject of much speculation – for Ashara masqueraded as a Sith while she was with Nox, but even a short conversation would reveal someone who was distinctly different to Nox. It is believed that Nox wished to turn her to the dark side – but surprisingly, failed in this task.

A rare time where the Dark Councilor was denied. It can be said that Nox helped influence and shape Ashara's mindset on certain philosophies concerning the Force – but Ashara never wavered from defining herself as a Jedi. A more pragmatic Jedi than most, which played a role in surviving Zakuul, but a Jedi nonetheless.

Ashara was noted by Jedi and non-Jedi alike as not being a particularly powerful user of the Force, yet she possessed a single-minded focus and will that no one could bend or break.

She is seen within the Order of Nox, and specifically House Zavros, as the ideal Jedi. A Knight whose conviction was iron, her mind was sharp, and her loyalty unquestioned. It did not matter that Ashara did not fully agree with Nox – she followed her to the very end, and trusted her to lead them to victory.

Her legacy is celebrated to this day, and is one House Zavros has emulated to the best of their ability.

House Zavros is perceived to be a successor to the Jedi Order – but they are better understood as a reinterpretation of the Jedi – specifically, one birthed from the mind of Ashara herself. An Order built around order rather than righteousness, which utilizes power rather than shirks it, whose commitment is to justice rather than forgiveness.

They are without question aligned to the light side of the Force, but one must be cautious in viewing them through too narrow a lens. They hold important roles within the Order and Aristocracy – and while they might not be overtly political, do not mistake this for lacking influence.

If a Zavros speaks, few will spurn their counsel.

---

ON THE ARBITERS OF ZAVROS

Disputes are not uncommon within the Aristocracy. To expect continual harmony is naïve – whether they are of the lesser nobility, or the higher. Attempting to prevent disputes is a losing battle – instead, what matters is how these disputes are resolved in a system that enables the Aristocracy.

The Arbiters are this solution.

These individuals manage what functions as a combination of judicial court and mediation body, one that exists solely to mediate and rule on the numerous cases brought to them from the Aristocracy, each seeking a resolution in their favor.

In most conventional noble systems, the courts and those who run them are hardly independent entities. Often, the outcome is known before the case is even heard. As a result, the respective nobility is incentivized to resolve disputes in more direct ways without bothering to involve a so-called third party at all.

The Order of Nox does not have this problem.

Zavros has been highlighted as the closest thing to an apolitical group within the High Nobility – and because of this, they are the only ones who can fulfill this kind of position and have it be accepted not just by the nobles at large, but the High Nobility and the Royal Family as well.

Ashara Zavros herself stated that if they were to assume this responsibility, no one would be above their decisions, not even the Royal Family.

The Zavros Arbiters are among the most prestigious positions in the Order of Nox, and particularly within House Zavros. To call them legal experts would be an incomplete summary of their capabilities. They do not rule solely on the law – for that matters little to the Aristocracy – but also possess a comprehensive understanding of inter-noble dynamics, histories, and inclinations of those who bring disputes before them.

They must understand these dynamics, for that is the only way they can rule in a way that is considered fair and acceptable to all parties. Zavros Arbiters do not have the luxury of relying on a comprehensive legal code, because a majority of disputes are not legal in nature, but rather a mixture of accusations, political ploys, and schemes that nobles bring against each other to undermine the other – or to protect themselves from being undermined.

The job of the Arbiter is as much to mediate and calm as it is to rule. Often their judgments are never fully in favor of one side or another, but elaborate compromises that are designed less to mete out total justice, than to resolve the dispute in such a way that tensions are calmed, stability is maintained, and schisms are healed before they can fester.

It is in no small part thanks to the Arbiters that the Aristocracy has been able to function for millennia without fracturing into rebellions or violent schisms. That there has been no major civil war or insurrection is not due to pure chance or the iron hand of Nox – it is because there is a lack of animosity amongst peers that is fostered by the Arbiters.

They have successfully built their reputation as a fair and impartial actor which is not just interested in justice, but prioritizes reconciliation. The Arbiters hold a rare position in the Order of Nox, one that demands years of study and apprenticeship before being recognized and accepted into their ranks.

While Arbiters are not even remotely militantly inclined, Force-users will construct ornate lightsabers with silver focusing crystals that they receive some basic instruction in. Their outfits are similarly white, orange, and blue, the colors of House Zavros.

Rarely will you find universal agreement at Court, but there are few, if any, who would deny the judicial authority of an Arbiter. That in and of itself is notable.

---

ON THE KNIGHTS OF ZAVROS

While the Arbiters hold a more consequential role in the context of the wider Order of Nox, it is the Knights who have become the defining icon of House Zavros – due to their prevalence throughout the Dromund System. Most reminiscent of the Jedi Knights of the Old Republic, these are understood to be the soldiers and warriors of the family.

This is, at best, an incomplete description.

The Knights of Zavros are formally charged with the protection of the Court and its members. In the event of a conflict, they would assume whatever role best reflects their capabilities within the defensive structure of the Order. They would become officers, commanders, and generals as necessary. They would assume leadership positions within the levies raised by the Aristocracy, and there are numerous contingencies that plan for this exact scenario – ones that the Knights hope to never execute.

They are all Force-users without exception, drilled and trained relentlessly from youth, though there is no universal standardization imposed on them concerning how their powers and skills manifest. Each Knight is unique in how they choose to fight, and what discipline they orient towards. Some Knights study tactics and grand strategy, others hone their martial skills to a fine edge. Still more strike a middle ground to round themselves out.

They also serve in roles that directly protect and develop the Nobles themselves. Knights can serve as bodyguards, wardens, and sometimes instructors for members of the Aristocracy and their children. Rarely is any notable member of the High Nobility not seen with their Zavros bodyguard, or young Nobles with a warden who doubles as their instructor.

It need not be mentioned that the Aristocracy is often uncomfortable placing their children in the care of another family – especially the High Nobility. There is only one exception to this rule: the Zavros Knights. They are the only noble family that can be trusted to not only protect themselves or their children without question – but also not interfere or be involved in a Court scheme to influence or manipulate.

Knights reflect the apolitical stance of Zavros – an easy task, as House Zavros has no schemes or plans to execute in the first place. This does not, however, mean that the Knights do not have some influence over their charges. Over time, it is not uncommon for their advice or insight to be willingly solicited, and, intentional or not, Knights will influence the views of their charges.

It is worth highlighting that this 'influence' does not necessarily translate to political outcomes, but is more philosophically-driven in nature. Knights are driven by their commitment and devotion to the mission of their family, which is to protect, defend, and support the Order of Nox. Selfishness and personal ambition are never a driving motivation – which is a perspective Nobles rarely encounter elsewhere.

Sometimes a Noble's interest is piqued, and they will adopt a mindset more reminiscent of a Knight in response.

Respect these warriors, reader. They are without question some of the most dangerous and powerful individuals in the Order of Nox – and in the event of war, it will be they who plan and strategize. Treat them with the caution you would have for any militant Jedi, for while these warriors may bear the blades and legacy of the Jedi, they are hewn from a thicker, darker cloth.

They are trained in war – and have been preparing for it for a very long time.

---

ON TERYN AZUAYE ZAVROS, GRAND ARBITER OF THE COURT

There are some individuals who are destined to rise above the forgettable and inconsequential. Many a family head has risen to their station, and performed adequately – but little more. They are only remembered by history books – if that – having failed to make an impression beyond a tired endurance of the status quo.

None can say this about Teryn Azuaye Zavros, who currently serves as the Grand Arbiter of the Court.

Approaching nearly one hundred years of age, Azuaye has been an icon of the Dromund Court longer than many of its current members have been alive. She has served under three separate Sovereigns, and led House Zavros for over three-quarters of her life. She met many of the Court's current members when they were children, and there are few others who not only understand the dynamics of the Court, but the people who comprise it on a personal level.

Few are as charming as she is; a socialite without peers, who even at her age is one of the first to arrive at the banquets, and one of the last to leave. It is a fascinating experience to watch the ease by which she speaks with others – be it individually, or in small groups. She is never too short, never too long, and brings each conversation to a graceful and elegant end – quite reflective of the woman herself.

Despite her age, she possesses the energy of a much younger woman, and she has shown no indication that she will be passing the mantle to another anytime soon, even if some successors are rumored. Frankly, many at Court are uncertain she could be replaced.

She is one of the most respected and trusted nobles alive – it is unlikely even the incoming Sovereign will be able to match her in popularity initially. Her career is equally impressive – having arbitrated tens of thousands of disputes, which she still regularly does, ruling with her particularly conciliatory style.

There have been others, myself included, who attempt to view and study her through a lens of cynicism and calculation to understand her motivation and mindset. This has failed to provide satisfying answers, for the simple reason that there is no secret or conspiracy to find.

She genuinely is interested in fairness, stability, and reconciliation for the Aristocracy. It is not a front to gain influence, nor are the relationships and friendships she has forged across the Aristocracy means to ends. There is nothing that is false about her – she is exactly who she portrays herself as.

As a result, she may be the single most alien thing at Court.

She commands authority and influence that few other nobles can rival – yet none of them believe for a moment that she would turn it against them. She is perhaps the best leader Zavros could possess; one who embodies their greatest virtues without apology or complaint.

When the day of her passing comes, it will leave a hole that can never be truly filled. Until then, she will continue her service, much to the relief of all members of the Order of Nox.

---

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF REVEL, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF STARS

Much of the High Nobility descends from a lineage of prestige or power. Jedi, Sith, Republic, Imperial, there are few who would deny the pedigree of their right to rule and power. Yet there is one major exception to this rule – and it is House Revel.

Unlike the respectable lineages of the other Great Houses, Revel descends from pirates, scavengers, and criminals. They are the last group that one would expect to hold claim to any noble power, but these people forget a very simple rule: power is power, and it does not discern who wields it.

Is it wrong that such a family possesses this power?

Wrong by what metric, dear reader? That they come from degenerate criminals and thieves? As if the crimes of petty vagabonds compare to what the Sith have inflicted in the past, or plan to in the future.

I find some amusement in those who pretend that Revel holding power is a kind of scandal; for it is the only time where they pretend to hold law and life sacrosanct. Please, are we moralizers like the Jedi? Or do we acknowledge and respect power wherever it is found?

Power does not discriminate, nor is it only in the hands of the so-called worthy, useless as that label is. Steel yourself against these internal hypocrisies, for before long they blind you to the truth, and stifle your growth like you wear a wroshyr trunk around your neck.

Now, let us briefly discuss this infamous criminal.

Andronikos Revel was many things. A captain, a pilot, an organizer, a murderer, an avenger – but above all of that he was a pirate. One who raided who he pleased as he hunted down those who had betrayed him previously.

He had a small fleet of loyalists at his command, a network of suppliers and agents throughout the numerous criminal groups in the Outer Rim, and was a master pilot who could fly with the best the galaxy had to offer.

When his path crossed with Darth Nox, it was initially a means to an end for them both. Andronikos had information, Nox had credits – in exchange for his help, Nox promised to help him settle a score.

This mutual agreement proved the start of a long and continuous relationship. Both of them realized there was much they could offer the other, and both saw opportunity in a closer long-term agreement – in more ways than one.

In the employ of Nox, Andronikos was able to expand his reputation and reach, as he was no longer a small-time pirate, but became one the most infamous pirate commodores that roamed the Outer Rim. He was embedded with every black market and criminal group in operation.

He leveraged this to both enrich himself and his people – and also strengthen Nox's own power base and weaken her enemies. Andronikos offered her a private supply network to easily outfit her people, an avenue of deniable operations to send against rivals, and a revenue source of millions of black-market credits.

Andronikos might have been blind to the Force, but he possessed a resolve and intelligence that Nox admired. He also gained the romantic attraction of Nox for a brief period – even siring a child with her – before an amicable separation.

He survived the initial invasion of the Eternal Empire by going into hiding for a brief period, but he did not stay idle for long, and in due course, he committed his resources to assisting Lana Beniko in her 'Alliance Against Zakuul,' and later to Nox herself, following her rescue.

As one of the last major figures of the criminal underworld, his array of pirates, smugglers, and criminals became the lifeblood of the Alliance, especially in the early days when guerilla warfare dominated strategy, and there was no central supply chain.

By war's end, Andronikos was no longer running paltry smuggling rings or black markets – he effectively created an unconventional, but highly flexible, supply chain that was able to ensure the Alliance factions across the galaxy, from Coruscant to Mandalore, were supplied with just what they needed.

It is thanks to Andronikos and his people that Nox's disciples were able to reconstitute on Dromund Kaas as quickly as they did – with services restored, goods distributed, and order established. House Revel continues his legacy, a lineage that is hardly noble – but which enabled survival.

The decision to elevate Revel in such a way was not uncontroversial – especially since Andronikos himself was baffled it was even a consideration. He had little interest in being elevated, yet he was willing to accept it out of duty to Nox – the only person he'd ever obeyed without question.

Despite assuming this position, House Revel has never really embraced their status or been entirely comfortable with it like the other High Nobles. They are among the most independent and disjointed of the High Nobility regarding their internal organization – with a lack of overt centralization and hierarchy endemic to the other Great Houses.

But as they did during Nox's time, Revel maintains the lifeblood of the Order of Nox: its supply chains and trade routes. They are responsible for making sure the Dromund System is supplied with everything that is needed, and each of the territories is well-stocked and organized. They are also notably on the forefront of what passes for technological development and research.

It is Revel who makes sure the machines and starships the Order uses are properly maintained, as no other family understands engineering and mechanics better than they do. Simply put, without House Revel, it is unlikely that the Order of Nox would be able to sustain itself as it has, let alone remain united for so long.

They are a far more unusual family than the others of the High Nobility, and express their interests and plans far differently than conventional politicking within the Court. They are the black nerf of the Aristocracy, even more than Zavros – a status many of them take pride in.

Of all of the High Nobility, it is Revel who have the closest relationships with their Commonwealths – which are based less on noble stratification, and more on peer-to-peer respect. Even Zavros, who generally treats the Commonwealth well, maintains a certain distance, and makes it clear there is a certain hierarchy of authority. This is often disregarded within Revel, and it is not uncommon for Revel Nobles to deal with commoners directly for one reason or another.

Many of the High Nobility underestimate Revel, and even Nobles are comfortable snubbing or ignoring them as they pursue their own interests. Such may be a risky proposition, for it assumes that Revel does not understand the power they hold throughout the Order of Nox.

They know, reader – of that I can assure you.

And those who ignore or disparage them best pray they do not learn the extent of their errors.

---

ON THE MACHINE-MASTERS OF REVEL

The name of this particular group in House Revel is one I believe to be… incomplete.

The Machine-Masters hold a high-ranking position among House Revel – not especially uncommon, but not simply handed out. They are typically understood to be roaming or stationed mechanics that are responsible for ensuring that the technology of the Order of Nox remains in working order.

This is of course true – but that is not all a Machine-Master is. Revel has many mechanics without this title, and other noble families tend to have a small mechanic corps.

If you come from outside Dromund Kaas, I am not sure you would believe the vast array of knowledge and experience that each Machine-Master possesses. Most mechanics specialize in one kind of technology or another, for that alone is enough for a lifetime of work. Repairing a starship is far different from repairing an electrical grid, for example. This principle tends to hold true even in the Order of Nox.

But due to the smaller number of mechanics, this cannot be all the Order of Nox relies on.

Machine-Masters are called such for a reason. Through some formal education, but mostly through experience, there is very little that the Machine-Masters cannot diagnose, if not repair, concerning all things technological. They come from apprenticeship programs that begin when the child hits their tenth birthday, and for the next decade shadow a Machine-Master across the Dromund System, gaining significant practical experience.

By the time they are ready to become full Machine-Masters themselves, they have been exposed to nearly every issue and piece of equipment that they could expect in the Dromund System. They are never without their personal array of tools, and can quickly identify issues – as well as improvise to fix them with limited resources.

Truthfully, they put many 'traditional' mechanics to shame, and almost certainly understand the technologies better than their creators did. Yet this only captures a fraction of what the Machine-Masters do. They are also responsible for driving the technological progress of the Order of Nox.

Several Machine-Masters oversee teams that do nothing but study and reverse-engineer technology brought from outside, or reconstruct it utilizing seized or stolen schematics and manuals.

Sometimes they run experiments to see if they can complete or alter a schematic with just materials found on Dromund Kaas. It is a significant amount of testing, trial, and error – but this kind of research has been instrumental in modernizing House Revel, and the Order as a whole.

While there are not many universities on Dromund Kaas, the Machine-Masters have put together curriculums with basic information and troubleshooting which have been distributed to the Aristocracy, as well as taught some engineering and mechanics classes at the request of some families.

It is fair to say that the Machine-Masters are a major reason why the Order has managed to slowly modernize over time – as well as not regress technologically. They possess an intimate understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, advantages, and limitations of the technology at their disposal.

No matter what any noble thinks of Revel, they are always respectful to the Machine-Masters, as without them, centuries of progress would wither to ruin.

---

ON THE PATHFINDERS OF REVEL

If there are individuals within House Revel who do not want to end up organizing the factories, serving on fleets, or operating as mechanics, they end up as one of the Pathfinders – following in the footsteps of Andronikos Revel himself.

A Pathfinder is a distinguished position within House Revel, both because it is a rare position requiring apprenticeship to an experienced Pathfinder, and because the few Force-sensitives within Revel tend to become Pathfinders, as it is the role best suited to their enhanced capabilities.

This is not to imply there are no Force-users elsewhere in House Revel, but if one has the Force, it is more acceptable to employ it in a more… practical manner.

A Pathfinder is often poorly summarized as an explorer; a scout, if one wishes to use a more militarized term. I would counter this presumption by saying a Pathfinder is, first and foremost, an adventurer – if such romantic terms remain acceptable. Appropriate or not, I do not know if there is a more apt term for what they do.

A Pathfinder does not hold a single role or have a singular purpose. They are master hunters and trackers; survivors who willingly vacation deep in the jungles of Dromund Kaas. They are expert pilots, and cartographers of the planets and systems alike. When the Order of Nox needs to learn of the unknown regions of world and space, they go to the Pathfinders.

Pathfinders are independent and run their own outfits, which range from single-man operations, to commanding small flotillas that support their expeditions across Dromund Kaas and the wider galaxy. I will note, reader, that the Pathfinders are the ones who have gone into the galaxy the most. Many leave the Dromund System, go into the Outer Rim and sometimes beyond, and return with weapons, technologies, or information that is distributed to the appropriate parties within the Order of Nox.

Many, though, remain within the Dromund System, as no one knows the intricacies and dynamics of the worlds better than them. Be it conducting rescue operations for someone who wandered too far, hunting down dissidents who try to hide in the forests, or terminating a particularly dangerous beast, there is plenty of work for the Pathfinders within the Dromund System.

While they are technically under the Revel Deshyr's authority, this is more symbolic than official, and in keeping with the norms of House Revel, Pathfinders are expected to manage their own operations competently, and in a way that doesn't harm family interests. If they do this, they can expect consistent autonomy.

Pathfinders are expected to prioritize directives from House Revel, but will otherwise work across Dromund Kaas, providing their services to noble and Commonwealth alike. This sometimes perturbs the local nobility, but at this point, they have learned to accept it.

No matter the region one goes to across Dromund Kaas or Fels, there are always a few Pathfinders hanging around ready and able to work. If you can afford their services, they are generally willing to provide them.

They are intelligent and effective survivalists – a group not to be underestimated. A final interesting note is that no one in Revel uses a lightsaber. Force-sensitive or not, Pathfinders prefer to rely on a good blaster at their side, rather than the more traditional tools of the Order.

---

ON DESHYR TELU REVEL, MASTER MACHINIST

There is a certain perception among the Aristocracy that House Revel does not conduct politics well, and certain stereotypes have emerged as a result. Most would be hard-pressed to say that Deshyr Telu Revel challenges these assumptions even a little bit – something that goes both ways.

Without question one the smartest men alive on Dromund Kaas, the nominal leader of the Machine-Masters, and subsequently, House Revel, is a generally mild, unassuming person who maintains a faint demeanor of nobility in his dealings with the Court. It is not unreasonable to imagine that he would prefer to be anywhere other than at Court.

This is not incorrect.

When he is not in the Court, Telu can usually be found in his workshop reverse-engineering an obscure technology, or in his office reading the latest engineering reports, scientific journals hijacked from the HoloNet, or schematics appropriated or created. He is an avid consumer of all things engineering, and that is not just because of technical interest.

He has plans. He has ideas.

While he may eschew traditional nobility, he best embodies the Revel approach to politics. Instead of wasting time engaging in schemes, or flattering with lies – where he knows he is outclassed by Drellik, Shan, and Beniko – he instead knows where he can directly influence.

Primarily through deals and trade.

There is much to say about the Shan Spynet or the administrative dominance of Beniko, but there are curiously few who take into account the myriad of supply chains, trade agreements, and sales that House Revel maintains and builds throughout the Dromund System. Revel keeps the Order of Nox running, and that is thanks to on-the-ground activities organized between Revel representatives and the Aristocracy at all levels.

Amusingly, no one thinks that Revel knows the influence they possess as a result. This influence may not necessarily be with the leaders of the noble families directly, but mostly with the subordinates. They talk to each other, and certain ideas can filter up and influence their betters.

Telu is well-aware of this fact, but has a more direct way of executing his plans without even needing to engage in such long-term subtlety – bypassing it altogether.

Ever since the Order of Nox joined the Sith Collective, and the galaxy was once more opened up, House Revel has sought to take advantage. Telu has assessed that the Order of Nox has stagnated for long enough – it must be modernized, and he has little patience doing it through the Court. Endless debate and noble jockeying would retard the growth potential of the entire Order.

Instead, he propagates modernization through this trade network. Slowly, surely, agreements are altered and renegotiated, new products are sold, and the overall technological level of the Order rises over the course of several years – without any official acknowledgement or input from the Court. Telu has sent more Pathfinders than ever into the galaxy to learn and return with the latest technologies and methods – as he strategizes how best to incorporate them into the Order.

This self-driven modernization project is one he has accelerated in recent years as he believes that the Order of Nox is at a severe disadvantage within the Collective, while remaining too isolated from the galaxy. If the nobles continue to ignore or dismiss him, that is fine by him, because he has already begun making a difference on the ground level.

He understands his limitations, of course – he is constrained by what he can produce within the Dromund System, and even optimistically his project is generational. Nonetheless, his factories are beginning to approach what can pass for a modern standard, and eventually will be able to scale appropriately.

If he will achieve a critical mass before the reckoning comes is unknown – but all can be certain that he is going to try.

The High Nobility should be grateful he is using his influence to strengthen the Order, instead of undermining it – for he is more than capable of both.

---

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF SHAN, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF SHADOWS

In the era of the Old Republic, the Shan bloodline was one of the most powerful in the galaxy, and perhaps the only substantial lineage of note within the Jedi Order, whose policies and detachment prevented the formation of any great bloodlines. Yet this one endured, descended from Revan and Bastila Shan themselves, their descendants without exception wielded great power and influence throughout the Jedi Order.

While few of them were necessarily the most exemplary of the Jedi, they were nonetheless figures of note within the Order, whose presence the Jedi and Republic could and did rally behind.

Yet even the greatest of bloodlines fade without care, and the Shan bloodline was no exception. Their loyalty and devotion to the Jedi, who saw their continued lineage as a violation of what they believed in, would falter. Never large to begin with, it would take only one descendent to bring it to an end if they so choose.

Such was inevitable, and Satele Shan was the last Shan of any note. While she held the rank of Grand Master of the Jedi Order, she nonetheless fell to the blades of the Eternal Empire as Tython was subjugated under the Eternal Throne.

And that, most believe, was the end.

Satele was the first Jedi of the lineage who fully embraced the shackles of Jedi detachment, and eschewed emotion, spouse, and children. She chose a commitment to the values and tenants of the Order – or so the Jedi would have us believe. Satele was no saint in this matter, as she had a secret relationship and a child.

Yet exposing such hypocrisy was unacceptable. She had a role, she had a reputation, she had a mission – and if her impropriety came to light, all of it might be threatened. Thus, she abandoned the child, and kept pristine the Shan name.

Such a selfish, ruthless choice that almost reminds me of the Sith in its cruelty.

That the child lacked the talent for the Force that many of his ancestors possessed doubtless made the choice easier. Ironic, I think, that it is only because of this child that the Shan lineage continues at all.

A child who grew up using his meager talent to the best of his abilities, who managed to avoid the fate of his parent, and who learned to embrace the realms of shadows, lies, and espionage. There is little remarkable about Satele Shan, but her son, Theron, despite his meager connection to the Force, accomplished as much or more than she did.

From hunting and uprooting the Cult of Revan throughout the Republic ranks to commanding the intelligence apparatus of Nox's Alliance and matching wits with the sharpest minds the Eternal Empire offered, it is unsurprising that Nox respected him – and he her.

He leaves a legacy that House Shan has embraced.

And one which is perhaps the most powerful of any of the High Nobility.

House Shan is viewed with trepidation, wariness, and caution – for theirs is a family not of powerful Force-users, or Jedi-adjacent – but of spymasters and secrets. They possess networks of contacts that are spread throughout the Dromund System – within the Commonwealth and Aristocracy itself. They command what amounts to an intelligence apparatus – but one under their direct control.

Their reach extends everywhere one can imagine, and their formal mission is to ensure that all who would plot and scheme against the Royal Family are stopped. They are the ones who ensure that foreign enemies cannot infiltrate or influence, and pass along information to the Dromund Court that warns them of threats to property, body, or reputation.

It may be difficult to quantify the sheer amount of information that House Shan possesses. Even the High Nobility as a whole is unsure about their organization and objectives – proper spycraft is ever opaque.

They are widely perceived as the most dangerous family of the High Nobility, for their schemes have no equal in complexity, and are measured in generations rather than years. Few have the desire or capability to engage in espionage so intricate and subtle.

Few except House Shan.

One must be wary of this family. They may bear the Shan name, but they thrive in the shadows, spin webs of deceit, and manipulate by nature. They abandoned any association to the Jedi a very long time ago. They are something new now; something dangerous.

Treat them accordingly.

---

ON THE CIPHERS OF SHAN

The most infamous – and dangerous – members of House Shan are known as the Ciphers.

It is almost certain that the term was appropriated from the 'Cipher Agents' of Imperial Intelligence. Cipher Agents were elite operatives who were given the most sensitive and important tasks within the organization – to include field operations, assassinations, and deep cover operations.

Ironically, little of that describes the Shan Ciphers.

Their role is better understood as a handler. Ciphers are responsible for the recruitment of sources, the cultivation of assets, the creation and maintenance of networks, and finally consolidating all of the intelligence gained and discerning what is important, and what is inconsequential.

No one outside the family knows how the Ciphers are organized, only that it is on a numerical basis. The number of Ciphers is believed to be no more than fifty, but there are rumors that it is as high as eighty, or as low as thirty – almost certainly some of it is disinformation pushed by House Shan themselves.

Theories as to their organization range from asserting that each Cipher is responsible for a specific region of the Dromund System, or there is a Cipher assigned to each noble family, or some kind of a combination of the two. What is certain is that every Cipher is the heart of an extensive intelligence network that ranges from the commoners to the nobility.

The Ciphers are exceptionally talented at crafting personal and professional relationships. Many times, these networks include people who are wholly ignorant that they are being utilized at all.

The Aristocracy itself will publicly scoff at any claim they have been compromised in such a manner. They would say that while Shan might have penetrated the Commonwealth without their knowledge, the idea that they would have sources or assets in their house is a farcical illusion.

Ah, but they lie to themselves, reader.

This is why House Shan is respected.

It is why they are feared.

There is no noble family, from the lowest to the highest, who does not have at least one member who knowingly and willingly shares what they know with a Shan Cipher. Their reasons for doing so vary. Some of them are resentful of their status and do so out of spite, others believe they do this to give their family an advantage, some crave excitement, others are controlled by blackmail and shame by the Ciphers themselves.

The Shan Ciphers pick their noble sources carefully, knowing the consequences are severe if their asset changes their mind, or does not possess enough guile to avoid being detected. They pick those who are ideologically pliable, emotionally vulnerable, able to be predicted in a way that makes it worth the risk to cultivate. For infiltrating and spying on a noble family in this manner is a scandal – but curiously, despite their reputation, rarely are direct accusations made.

All by design.

All to maintain a certain illusion.

Few nobles know who the traitor in their family is – assuming there is only one. It may be a cousin, it may be someone so distant as to be irrelevant, or it could be their daughter, their heir, or their parent. The worst thing one can do is make assumptions about why one might wish to work with the Shan Ciphers – because to dismiss all motivation as treason simply does not work.

Especially because the Ciphers reward those who work for them.

They are often willing to indulge in the price demanded. Sometimes it is information on a rival, other times it is votes or sponsorship, sometimes it is elevation to nobility, or perhaps it is wealth and opportunity. This, however, is a two-way skylane – to gain from the Ciphers, you must offer and provide.

Be this information of your own, votes in a certain way, or other prices that only the Ciphers know.

House Shan possesses a deep and unique understanding of the greatest strengths and weaknesses of each of the noble families. Some information, such as overt criminal activity or conspiracy against a noble family is shared to the relevant parties or the Court, in accordance with their official role.

But there are many things that are kept quiet and obscured.

In the event that a Cipher emerges, or wishes to speak to you, understand that you are engaging with one of the most powerful and dangerous people on Dromund Kaas. There is little that they do not know, and I assure you, they do not speak to people without reason. It matters not your rank, power, or status.

If they see opportunity, they will strike, and do not presume you cannot be manipulated.

Pride has been the undoing of many a Sith. Do not count yourself amongst them.

---

ON THE INQUISITORS OF SHAN

Truth and identity are not always divulged when it comes to House Shan, but there are exceptions to this norm – and the Inquisitors are among them. Wearing robes of white, gray, and faded blue, lightsabers at their belt, and hoods shrouding their faces, they are among the most recognizable of House Shan – though they rarely speak without purpose.

As stated earlier, one of the core missions of House Shan is protecting the Aristocracy and the Royal Family from any plots and threats against them. While the Ciphers are, in theory, responsible for gathering this information, it is the Inquisitors who act on it.

They are skilled users of the Force, trained investigators, experienced interrogators, and educated psychologists who execute the counter-espionage activities of House Shan – and thus direct any counterintelligence effort for the Dromund Court as a whole. Part field agent, part detective, part spy, they often work in trios, often closely coordinating with the directly affected noble family. They are also charged with presenting final reports and findings directly to the Court and Sovereign.

Ironically, it is the Inquisitors who are the most trusted members of House Shan. With an Inquisitor, one can be certain that they are not engaged in a scheme or plot to subvert or influence your family. They are explicitly focused on their mission, and widely viewed as competent in executing it – as many an unfortunate target of the Inquisitors can attest to.

Secondary to this objective, the Inquisitors also ensure that any plots and schemes against House Shan fail or are turned against their creators. Inquisitors never draw attention to their work, or demand recognition or glory – but this should not be mistaken for complacency.

The few nobles who have been foolish enough to attempt to scheme against House Shan have received the message loud and clear – which can come in the form of a simple chat with an Inquisitor, or in the body of a spy or someone more precious. One engages in Court intrigue against House Shan at their own peril.

This is their turf, and it is widely accepted that the only ones who should even attempt it belong to the High Nobility – if even them.

---

ON DESHYR ROBAK SHAN, CIPHER ONE

The Deshyr of House Shan has always been a Cipher, and their title has always been 'Cipher One.'

The lynchpin. The centerpoint. The leader. The mastermind.

Or such is assumed.

Yet some assumptions are more grounded than others, and it is unlikely that many would protest the idea that Deshyr Robak Shan – or any Deshyr of House Shan – is anything but a mastermind. Some assert that the Deshyr has always been a front; a formal role while the true leader remains unknown and unnamed.

These people have likely never met Robak Shan, else they might not be so quick to make such assertions. Or, if there is indeed another who is pulling the strings, then we should be afraid, for they must be greater than Robak himself.

This man is said to be second in power only to the Sovereign of Dromund Kaas. Heretical whispers claim that he has already surpassed even their influence. No matter what one thinks, there is agreement that he is almost certainly one who will shape the future of the Order of Nox.

Robak has only formally held the title of Deshyr for two decades – relatively short in comparison to his predecessors, though it is believed his own reign is just beginning. No one knows what he did prior to his ascension to Cipher One – though he was not an unknown presence in the Court.

All of the High Nobility knew his name – and all were deeply wary of him.

There is a certain quality to Robak that one cannot help but notice – even within a short interaction. He has the quiet, assured confidence of a man who knows more than you. Idle conversation creates the impression that your secrets and weaknesses are laid bare, while you know nothing in return. It is a presence that is unsettling when contrasted with his too-wide smile, and eyes that are as yellow as the sun.

He is a man who presents himself modestly, wearing tasteful clothing in the colors of his family; his hair and beard are groomed, but not flashy. A voice that is deep, but not memorable or boisterous. Yet it is a voice that possesses an amused lilt to it, as if he is perpetually reveling in an inside joke only he knows.

A dramatic description, perhaps, but Robak Shan is a man who thrives on drama and secrets. He is not an actor, so much as a director of the grand play he orchestrates.

It is he who commands the vast Shan Spynet, who receives and employs the knowledge his Ciphers give him, and who is responsible for shaping it to meet the long-term plans of the family. He is the face of Shan – feared, respected, admired, and resented alike.

Someone it's best to go unnoticed by, and yet, if there is any noble one should ally with, it is he, for he is one of the only people outside the Royals themselves who can make or unmake noble families and individuals alike.

Interesting events are afoot, dear reader, because we may just witness the Shan endgame within our lifetimes. Rumors swirl, and observations have been made that Robak may be about to execute one of the greatest coups in Kaasian history.

One concerning the Royal Family itself.

It is known that the future of the Order of Nox will fall to the rule of the Crown Prince, and already the High Nobility has been in intense negotiation with the Royal Family over who Lestko Beni'vel will be betrothed to. While the Crown Prince will not be married for several years to come, the jockeying has started.

And perhaps it has already ended.

Some say that Robak Shan has successfully ensured that Lestko will marry a Shan – rumors suggest it might be one of his daughters, with some claiming it to be his youngest, Coraline. Perhaps, she's Lestko's age, though most dismiss her as something of a black nerf of the family. Only time will tell if these rumors prove true.

If it is successful, it will tie the Royal Family to Shan directly, and the Crown Prince, soon-to-be Prince of Dromund Kaas will have the voice of a Shan – and by proxy, Robak – in his ear.

A union between Shan and Beni'vel has always been shunned through previous millennia. The Royal Family has always perceived such a relationship as a risk, one which would eventually place them under the sway of House Shan.

Yet this wisdom appears to be failing, and be it through fear, desperation, or manipulation, Robak is taking advantage of a weakened Royal Family, and his dominance at Court to gain influence over the most important power in the Order of Nox.

A masterstroke if it comes to fruition – as if it does, then the supremacy of House Shan in the Dromund Court will almost certainly be assured for the indefinite future. For once House Shan and Royal Family are intertwined, it is unlikely they will be allowed to part willingly.

---

ON THE HIGH NOBLE FAMILY OF BENIKO, CUSTODIANS OF THE SPHERE OF RULE

The origins of House Beniko are, ironically, far less tied to their namesake than their peers. While Lana Beniko founded the family, her bloodline is hardly present within it at all, but for a few individuals who have married members of the Royal Family Beni'vel – where Lana herself spent her last days after founding her namesake family.

In a certain way, this is fitting – Lana Beniko was, ultimately, intertwined with Nox as closely as any paramour can be. Once her duty was done and her name continued in some manner, it is unsurprising that she would seek to be closer to her beloved in her final days, culminating in being buried within Nox's mausoleum in the Temple of the Dark Lords.

Thus, House Beniko continued in her absence.

With this comes an obvious question – what defines House Beniko if not for their bloodline? By whom are they composed?

Everyone, reader.

In most other scenarios, House Beniko would be split into a multitude of smaller noble families. It is the only Great House that does not have a majority-species within it. Indeed, one can find all manner of species within this particular family. Human, twi'lek, miraluka, togruta, mirialan, and a dozen other species that now live in the Dromund System have some representation – and this is intentional.

Following the bombardment of Dromund Kaas, the initial chaos was resolved in no small part due to the organization of Nox's disciples and their quick decisions. While the Drellik bureaucrats were instrumental in establishing order, they could not do it alone. Help was demanded, and Lana was responsible for identifying administrators and organizers from the citizenry, and delegating authority to them.

It was perhaps a risk to put so much trust in their capabilities, but she had few options – and more importantly, her gamble paid off. Thanks to her decision, and the efforts of the disciples of Nox, order was eventually restored. That was the basis by which Lana founded House Beniko – as she determined that it would be charged with attending to the rule of the world itself.

She took the unilateral and unprecedented step of elevating all of the people who had administered in those crucial days to nobility, and adopted them directly into House Beniko. This was not atypical for Lana – among the Sith, she had an inclination towards the unorthodox and controversial.

If something needed to change, or the existing plan was not working, she would adjust without apology. She was able to rise quickly in the Sith because of her ability to adapt to Jadus's rule, while many of her peers stagnated and her superiors fell. Her talent for planning and organization allowed many Imperials to survive the Eternal Empire – and later, were the basis from which entire worlds were liberated.

It is this legacy of adaptable organization that Beniko maintains, and of all of the Great Houses, they are the ones least attached to bloodlines, lineage, and tradition. Sometimes to their benefit, other times their detriment. It makes their politics complicated, and not without controversy.

It is not uncommon for Beniko to elevate Commonwealth families who show competence and potential. Within the Beniko territories, it is expected that if you perform well, are loyal, and demonstrate your interest, elevation to the Gentry is practically assured with time.

Beniko also has little issue with directly adopting and absorbing noble families as a matter of ascending them to the High Nobility, ballooning the size of their family and regularly bringing in new blood not just into their family, but throughout the Aristocracy itself.

They are easily the largest of the Great Houses, though their diversity does not come without drawbacks. There are a wide array of ideas, perspectives, and personalities internally, and they have been known to spend more time fighting amongst themselves rather than uniting – something that becomes common if their Altus is indecisive or weak.

It is curious how there are parallels to the Royal Family itself – though within entirely different contexts.

This kind of dynamic emerges more often than not, as it is no small feat to manage such a diverse and substantial family, much less one that is charged with assisting in the administration of the worlds themselves, as well as keeping the peace.

This is not to say that Beniko does not engage in Court intrigue, but that their skill waxes and wanes depending on leadership. At any one time there may be multiple independent schemes employed by multiple internal factions within Beniko which are run with little coordination. This makes them harder to predict, but also makes each uncoordinated effort weaker.

It is usually in the interests of the other High Nobility to perpetuate this divide, as when Beniko is united under firm leadership, they are easily considered the most powerful of the High Nobility. This has not happened for a very long time – but with their current Altus, Beniko appears poised for a major resurgence.

Something all of the Court is watching closely.

---

ON THE PEACEKEEPERS OF BENIKO

It is an unfortunate reality that no matter the civilization, no matter the ruler, there will always be those who – be it because of greed, self-interest, or anarchism – decide to embrace the allure of criminality.

There are criminals on Dromund Kaas, and the Order of Nox suffers the scourge of crime and social rot that any other society does. Thus, it becomes necessary to ensure there is a force in place to handle it. This is where the Peacekeepers come in, individuals empowered by the High Nobility to ensure that the Commonwealth is protected, and the lands of the Aristocracy secured.

This task falls under Beniko's mandate, and they organize their Peacekeepers proportionally to their respective deployments – larger cities with bigger populations will have a higher allocation of Peacekeepers than villages or towns. The second metric factored into this are actual crime rates. These metrics combined determine the minimum number of Peacekeepers needed for any particular region.

Peacekeepers are also not strictly law enforcement in the traditional sense – they patrol, arrest, and question – but they also respond to incidents, thefts, and other crimes with no immediate suspect. They are also responsible for conducting the investigative efforts, acting as organizers and detectives.

Case resolutions are a very important metric Beniko maintains – to fail to bring a case to resolution is a black mark on any Beniko Peacekeeper, and gives incentive for them to not let cases turn cold. One might be concerned this would lead to false accusations and corruption among Peacekeepers.

This does indeed happen; however, Beniko has a very simple policy for those who either punish the wrong party, or fabricate evidence – immediate public execution. While it is disgraceful to fail a case, it is far, far worse to make a false accusation, or engage in criminality yourself.

Such punishments are usually carried out by the Altus themselves, with mandatory attendance from ranking Beniko Nobles. The message is clear, and as a result, the Peacekeepers are not plagued by graft.

While some Peacekeepers have near-permanent postings, especially in larger cities, many are moved around frequently as metrics change and needs adjust. This is understood as a good sign, for it means that they are having a positive effect.

Peacekeepers employ a mixture of Force-users and the Force-blind, who, regardless if they carry blasters or lightsabers, are instilled with significant authority over the Commonwealth, and even the Aristocracy should circumstance dictate. A Peacekeeper has the sovereign right to intervene in any incident or dispute they see, interrogate and detain at will, and render swift judgment if necessary.

Of course, they do not act recklessly with such power, as there are considerations beyond public perception. Acting as authorities within domains that do not ultimately answer to House Beniko comes with risks. To mitigate this, they will usually work in coordination with local officials and nobles when it comes to the treatment of criminals.

Some nobles care little if the Peacekeeper renders their verdict on the spot, while others will demand they be detained for proper investigation and trial. The Peacekeeper is expected to comply with the requests of the noble, unless the alternative is to place the lives of others at risk. To say that the reputation of the Peacekeepers among the Commonwealth is mixed is… a diplomatic way to put it.

The fact that not all Peacekeepers operate the same only complicates the matter.

Some populations have positive relationships and are always willing to assist and support their endeavors. Others fear them, and while they won't interfere, they will not go out of their way to assist. This latter perception is one that the Peacekeepers themselves consider problematic.

Individuals who have such poor relationships are usually rotated elsewhere, and if necessary, placed on remedial plans to adjust their conduct. Beniko is sensitive to the fact that positive relations in this position are important, and while they maintain a ruthless approach to crime, they see a distinction between enforcement and thuggery.

Thus far, their approach has allowed their operation to be successful. Law enforcement is a necessary part of any civilization, and while their ideal goal is to stamp out the criminal inclination completely, even they see how unlikely that is.

Until they succeed utterly, the Peacekeepers will continue to patrol the streets, keeping the cities safe and the Commonwealth secure.

---

ON THE SENESCHALS OF BENIKO

To rule and administer is not an easy or simple task, and one must contend with those who are incompetent, lazy, or otherwise incapable of properly ruling their lands. Within certain noble systems, this is simply part of the risk and weakness inherent in the model – for it is the right of the noble to rule as they wish, is it not?

In some systems, perhaps. The Order of Nox has higher standards, and the High Nobility have developed little tolerance for the Nobles who fail at the basic tasks assigned to them. However, they also understand that experience does not come immediately, and one sometimes needs second opinions to make the correct decisions.

Enter the Seneschals of House Beniko.

All of the Noble Families, no matter their station, receive a dedicated Seneschal who is responsible for assisting them in the rule of their territories. Every Seneschal is an expert administrator with practical experience and knowledge of the region, its economy, and its people. They are sometimes more informed than those who nominally rule the territories in question.

It is amusing how often that is the case.

The purpose of the Seneschals is twofold – the first is to do their assigned task and assist the respective leader of the territory in ruling it in all matters administrative. They will offer recommendations, provide feedback, and work to optimize the existing systems of management that are in place.

The second is more subtle – it is to better standardize the systems of rule and administration, agnostic of any single Noble Family. Beniko believes they have developed an ideal system for administering a world, and while there are only some instances where they can overrule the Noble ruler, they nonetheless press for what they see as an ideal, efficient system.

An obvious question you might have is if a Noble can refuse a Seneschal.

The answer is no, reader. They cannot.

This fact applies to the High Nobility as well. This does not mean that the Noble must heed the advice of the Seneschal, nor even involve them to a significant degree – but Seneschals cannot be refused, and they are not idle. If they are not being tasked, they will work behind the scenes to implement their system – within certain boundaries.

This degree of potential meddling is an intended and acknowledged consequence. Beniko, and the High Nobility itself, is mostly interested in ensuring that someone is effectively administering the territories – they do not necessarily believe the Beniko system is the ideal, but better a Seneschal is pulling the strings rather than a lazy, inept ruler.

It is not uncommon for Seneschals to become the unofficial rulers of territories, as some Nobles see it as an excuse to offload responsibility to them – foolishly believing that the Seneschal is merely another subordinate, rather than a political representative of a High Noble Family.

Beniko has no complaints about this arrangement, and it is why their direct control over the affairs of many Noble Families is significant. Such influence is, ironically, less prevalent amongst the Gentry, as those nobles are driven by a desire to prove themselves worthy of elevation – which requires actual dedication and competence.

They similarly lack this degree of control over families closely tied to the High Nobility, who will tolerate the Seneschals, but are well aware that they are not apolitical actors. They will keep tight control over their family operations as a result, giving the Seneschal no excuse to exercise a freer hand.

Some High Noble Families have better relations with Seneschals than others – Zavros and Revel have worked well with Beniko, and are largely aligned in many respects. Historically, the Royal Family has also had cordial relationships with the Seneschals, though since the ascension of the current Altus, and the gradual decline of Beni'vel itself, these have become strained.

Ultimately, the Seneschals are a major reason the Order of Nox is able to administer their territories with relative effectiveness – and one that functions as the primary political arm of Beniko.

One can be assured they know very well the leverage and power they hold – and they doubtless use it in their own schemes at Court.

---

ON ALTUS DILEA BENIKO, KEEPER OF ORDER

The leaders of Beniko are among the most interesting, because they lack the familiar patterns one expects among the rest of the High Nobility. One can usually expect a clear line of succession and a designated heir. In some cases, the leadership of a noble family can be predicted generations in advance.

Very little of this conventional wisdom applies to Beniko, which has vastly different demographics and internal culture, one that is based less on bloodline, and more on accomplishment. Simply put, someone like Altus Dilea Beniko would not succeed in another family, let alone ascend to lead it.

That she is a miraluka is barely a hurdle to overcome in comparison to the other facts of her rise. Dilea was not even born to Beniko, but was adopted into it as a young ward – an extremely rare and astounding feat. To go from being born a commoner to eventually leading one of the Great Houses is a nearly impossible task.

I am hardly the first to be surprised upon learning these facts. Even within Beniko, few expected that the Altus would be Dilea, even if it eventually became clear to a majority that she deserved the title. Dilea has been fixated since she was a young girl on proving her worth, and changing the Order in a substantial way.

Unlike her predecessors, she has vision, she has plans, she has ambition.

Initially skeptical, many of House Beniko are warming to her vision – and she has only become more popular since the death of Prince Arlon, and the continued weakness of the Royal Family. Beniko and Beni'vel have historically had a very close relationship, and it was Beniko who was and is critical to the actual rule of the Dromund System almost since the inception of the current system.

This change in their relationship is notable.

There have been sentiments brewing for a long time that it is time for the right of Royalty to change. The previous years have seen growth in this outlook; one where the Royal Family no longer has supremacy, and instead this authority is invested in the worthiest member of the High Nobility – with Beni'vel simply being another Great House.

Dilea's outlook has been heavily shaped by her own experiences, as well as how Beniko itself is organized – driven not by blood or species, but by merit, resolve, and determination. She holds a distaste for those who rely on nepotism as the basis for their authority. There are elements of the noble system that she believes are in significant need of modernization, and is far more willing to adjust them than her predecessors.

Most critically, she has a desire to see the importance of Beni'vel fade, and for Beniko to step up and assume their role as the de facto leaders of the Order of Nox. She has her own ideas for the modernization of the Order, yet where Revel's modernization plans are technological, hers are political.

This is not particularly conspiratorial – it is an open secret that she holds this view, and that she is leading Beniko is proof that it is far from an unpopular sentiment. The loss of Beniko as a reliable ally is likely a major reason why Beni'vel has slowly been pushed into the arms of Drellik as their principal ally at Court.

Ironically, Dilea has been able to find common ground with Drellik on certain matters, who also seeks the weakening of the Royal Family – though for different reasons.

It is a rather ironic twist of fate that the family that bears Lana Beniko's name is now aligned against the Royal Family that bears her blood. Though, perhaps that is too harsh. They do not seek its dissolution, only its irrelevance.

What might a Beniko-led Order of Nox look like, should Dilea succeed in her ambitions? It is difficult to say, but I would hesitate in underestimating this woman. She has overcome challenge after challenge to reach her station.

Only a fool would assume her edge has dulled in the process.

---

ON THE ROYAL FAMILY OF BENI'VEL, SOVEREIGNS OF DROMUND KAAS

With the details, exploits, and capabilities of the High Nobility laid out, it is natural to wonder precisely why it is the right of the Royal Family of Beni'vel to rule all of Dromund Kaas, and the greater Order of Darth Nox. The most obvious answer – that it is the only family that has the direct lineage of Darth Nox – is true, but incomplete.

It is not just the continuation of Nox's bloodline, but also that of Lana Beniko, Andronikos Revel, and Theron Shan. Both Nox and Lana were in previous relationships for a period, and each of them bore a child following this period before meeting each other, and brought both children – a girl and boy – into their relationship to raise together.

The name 'Beni'vel' is derived from a conjunction of the surnames they'd previously had. Nox herself died before Beni'vel was founded at all, but she died knowing that her lineage would continue, and Lana would raise their children well.

With the establishment of the noble system, there was a question of exactly where Nox's child would grow up. More than a few expected that Beniko would be the direct continuation of Nox's bloodline – but Lana quickly debased that notion. There was talk of having the family be named for Nox's previous lineage: 'Kallig.'

Lana refused the suggestion, as Nox had never held any attachment to her familial lineage, and had abandoned her previous names when she ascended to the rank of Dark Councilor. Some said that it should have been 'Nox' or 'Onixa' – her birth name – but few were particularly enthusiastic about that suggestion. It was Andronikos Revel who proposed a conjunction of the children's surnames. Several permutations were considered, but in the end, they settled on 'Beni'vel.'

So it was decided, and as the sole bearer of Nox's lineage, Onixa Ishal Revel took the throne as the first Princess of Dromund Kaas, alongside her husband and the first Prince of Dromund Kaas, Kieran Surana Beniko. They and their direct heir, Chapar Beni'vel, were the only Sovereigns to receive direct advice and insight from Nox's Disciples before their passing.

In the early years of the Order of Nox, all of the High Nobility, such as it was, was fully united behind the Royal Family and were fixated on strengthening the legitimacy and power the young throne exerted over the Order. They could not see the future, but they knew that eventually there would be efforts to weaken, degrade, or even overthrow the Beni'vel Sovereign.

There is a perception that the immutability of the Royal Family has always been accepted without question. The actual history of the Order of Nox tells a different story. This particular perception has only been the case for the past two millennia – prior to it, the position of the Royal Family was far more precarious, and mere centuries after its foundation, it was in danger of being rendered a symbolic figurehead.

The Royal Family had grown in size and established itself well enough, but of all the major noble families, its numbers were among the smallest. This was out of a belief that the Royal Family would be insular and selective with who they would allow to marry into it. A large Royal Family was not seen as a pressing need.

It was a sound enough approach, were it not for a plot among the nobility – of the non-High persuasion – who, acting as a united front, made demands of the High Nobility and the Royal Family concerning the mechanisms of rule and the right of Beni'vel to hold this authority. It was the first time such a challenge had been directly issued.

A precarious situation was forming – or so many feared.

It was a gamble, dear reader, that turned out to have been a significant miscalculation. There are reasons why the Nobles in question believed they could get away with it – because if certain things had been different, they would have.

Firstly, the High Nobility lacked the same degree of interest and control over their nominal territories than they do today. Instead, they ruled and organized themselves much like Beni'vel did – insular and distant. There was an assumption that their status and lineage alone would make them untouchable.

A dangerous assumption that nearly cost them dearly.

The Nobles had made promises and assurances to Gentry and even certain Commonwealth representatives to gain their support for the plot. There was a calculation made on their end – one where they saw concessions as a strong possibility.

The Nobility did not wish to go to war, and would have likely stopped short if the High Nobles called their bluff – but it didn't reach that point.

During this time, Dromund Kaas was ruled by Princess Orin Beni'vel – a woman whose power was immense, and her talent equivalent. It was rumored her power would have rivaled Darth Nox herself, and to this day, she is considered one of the most powerful Force-users Beni'vel has ever produced.

She had no intention of giving concessions.

In response to these demands, she did the only thing that any self-respecting Sovereign would do – she summoned all of the Nobles under the pretense of negotiations, before proceeding to break their minds for the entire assembled Aristocracy to see. As they were tortured, flayed, and destroyed before hundreds of witnesses, Orin then asked those assembled if any wished to challenge the sovereignty of Beni'vel to rule Dromund Kaas.

None stepped forward.

With this single event, Orin not only solidified her supremacy over the Nobility – but also the Great Houses, some of whom were considering compromise on some issues. The traitor Nobles who had orchestrated the insurrection had their families wiped to a person, and in speaking to the High Nobility, Orin stated that this would not happen again.

Steps were immediately taken to rectify the deficiencies in their approach to rule.

Orin's plan was relatively simple, and based on a clear observation – insularity and too far a distance between the higher nobles and the lower ones was not sustainable. Royal blood must be distributed strategically, forming connections and ties to ensure peace for generations to come.

She committed to this plan, and began the process by arranging the marriages of her thirteen children to strategically important Noble Families. However, it was her successor, Prince Daryl Beni'vel who would optimize her plan, and lay the groundwork for generations to come.

Daryl established a rule for the spreading of Royal blood – one child per Noble Family, and when it was done once, it was not repeated. Children were a limited resource, and once the blood had been spread, there was no care if it remained strong or was diluted over generations. Daryl wanted the blood to thin over time, because that was less important than the blood tie existing in the first place.

There were Nobles who saw what was being done, but were not in a position to do anything – especially when they directly benefited from the connection. The High Nobility also pursued this strategy to a certain degree, but reached a point where they feared their blood becoming too diluted among the Nobles.

Beni'vel nonetheless persisted, and though it took many generations, the results have ensured that no Noble Family ever dared organize something even remotely threatening to the noble system the Order of Nox conceived. Today, a majority of Noble Families contain some amount of Royal blood, the fruit of millennia of careful intermarriage and political arrangements.

The Royal Family ceased this particular strategy around one thousand years ago, deciding that they had achieved what they wished, and the status and roles of the Aristocracy were firmly solidified. The Royal Family returned to being more selective with who they married, though related branches of the Royal Family and less important members of Beni'vel have continued to marry Nobles, even as the amount of Royal blood in the Aristocracy is often less prolific than some claim.

Let us pause for a moment to address a peculiarity that occasionally occurs amongst the High Nobility, something you're likely to encounter should you research their history in depth. Despite the best efforts of the families, some of their scions are born blind to the Force. It doesn't often occur, but when it does, it is most prevalent amongst Houses Shan and Beni'vel.

This is due to a single man, Theron Shan.

Perhaps that isn't fair, as he is not truly to blame, but rather an ancestor of his, Zhar Panlie. He was the second son of Darth Revan and Bastila Shan, and – relevant to our current discussion – he married a woman named Lanni Overlet. What relevance does this woman you've never heard of play in this story, I hear you ask. Simple. She was a clone. Specifically, an attempt by her father to manufacture superior progeny. One wonders how he would view his descendants now that they rule Dromund Kaas so expertly.

Regardless, this is the reason for Nox's peculiar nature. Even millennia later, the Force refuses to ignore the unnatural element that pervades their blood. Clones are outside nature, outside the Force. It's why flash-clones go mad. It's why cloning Force-sensitives is so… fraught. And now, nearly every High Noble human bloodline runs the risk of having the Force skip a generation.

And yet, one should not pity the Force-blind noble.

It may come as a shock, dear reader, but the Aristocracy does not sneer at their unfortunate progeny, because the most dangerous amongst them are those without the gift. For they must prove themselves without the benefit of such a crutch.

Consider the last Prince, Copania's husband, Arlon Beni'vel – the first Beni'vel in six generations to be born bereft of his birthright. He was a titanic force at Court. A shrewd diplomat capable of not only playing families off one another, but individuals within families as well. He was the herald of a new age for Nox, and yet… he was felled by a Sith. Melodramatic? Certainly. And yet, that is what happened.

Ever the diplomat, he hosted Darth Timoris – the first visit she'd ever made to Dromund Kaas. In fact, it was their first meeting, for while Arlon was the Prince, he appointed a Champion to act as his representative on the Dark Council of the Sith Collective – likely fearing the diplomatic prejudices of being a Force-blind Councilor. And yet, that single encounter was enough to unravel his very mind and end in his demise. Perhaps he would have survived, had he had the Force to rely on – though, given the reaction even seasoned Sith Lords have to her presence, one wonders.

And what are we to make of Darth Timoris's actions? Had she seen him as a threat to be removed? I don't know. The Lord of the Mind keeps her own counsel.

Today, the Royal Family of Beni'vel is less concerned with engaging in Court intrigue, but instead keeping their hard-won authority over the High Nobility – which has arguably already been undercut. A High Nobility with some members who have grown less interested in serving in their roles, but instead weakening the authority of Beni'vel. To this end, Beni'vel works to meet the High Nobility on their own terms and maintain superiority.

Beni'vel hold themselves to an exceptionally high standard, where even the average Beni'vel Lord or Lady must not be merely adequate, but exemplary. They will not specialize in one or two subjects or disciplines, but three or four. They will study under the other Great Houses, and in turn instruct their siblings and relatives.

They can be as skilled as Zavros Knights, as learned and powerful as Drellik Sorcerers, and can even possess the technical intuition of the Revel Machine-Masters. Each of them believes they are responsible for representing the importance and supremacy of the Royal Family – it is their duty, for being born into Beni'vel does not mean you will remain in the family.

House Beni'vel is the only house that will demote members who cannot meet this standard. They will either marry them into a house of the Gentry and subsequently surrender the Royal name, or facilitate their adoption into another noble family, which also requires a surrendering of the Royal name. If they cannot meet the standards of Royalty, they will not enjoy its privileges.

It is a choice given to children when they reach their sixteenth birthday. Either to continue with their education – with the understanding they might fail and be expelled – or make the choice to depart the Royal Family voluntarily. Some willingly leave, often those who were already struggling. Most make the attempt, even if only a fraction succeed.

As a result, it can be safely said that the Royal Family is elite even among the Aristocracy, and this alone justifies their continued supremacy. It is the single strongest concentration of skill, intelligence, and power – but still, they are but one family, and there are limitations in what even they can do.

It does not help that this elitism – while beneficial – makes each Beni'vel believe they possess a right to implement their ideas and vision… or at least be heard out on their merits. Many Beni'vel members attempt to compete for the attention of the ruling Sovereign, and if the Sovereign cannot manage to unite their own family under a single vision, then it is a sign that their rule will be weak and divided.

The Sovereign is always hereditary, as it is the direct continuation of the Nox bloodline. It is the only position in Beni'vel that is not determined by consensus or merit – and that makes it the most important position. Sovereigns must be strong of mind, personality, and vision, to fully unite the Royal Family, and leverage them to bring Beni'vel to prosperity.

If they cannot do this, then it will fail.

The Royal Family is old enough now that there are several schools of thought that have sustained themselves in various forms through generations, with the advocates of each trying to sway the Sovereign to their viewpoint. The Sovereign will either elevate one of these, or go with their own vision, but they must do one or the other. If they do not, the factions within Beni'vel will struggle among themselves to act unilaterally – seeing the lack of strength or choice in the Sovereign as justification.

For if the Sovereign cared, they would put a stop to their actions.

Often in this case, the Sovereign is simply working to ensure nothing permanent is lost concerning their authority over Dromund Kaas. Beni'vel has been consumed by a certain hubris, in that they believe their position is unassailable, and few think that the loss of previous authorities matters overmuch, as the High Nobility would not dare betray them as the Nobles once did.

There are some signs that Beni'vel is becoming aware of certain realities, and the Princess-Regent is most clear-eyed about the truth of her family's fading power – but the personalities within Beni'vel are strong, and it will require a Sovereign who possesses the vision of Nox, the ruthlessness of Orin, and the resolve of Arlon to subjugate them all.

Time will tell if the Crown Prince will eventually meet this moment – or if Beni'vel will be condemned to another generation of weakness.

---

THE INTERNAL CLIQUES OF BENI'VEL

In the previous section, I highlighted that there are several entrenched internal factions within House Beni'vel itself. Considering that there is no Sovereign at the moment with the will or capability to bring them in line, they have all grown more divided – and each intends to have the future Crown Prince elevate their status and become the de facto operational ideology of the Royal Family.

It would be a mistake to say that all members of Beni'vel fall into a Clique – a shorthand term for these groups – as there are some who eschew these internal politics, believing them self-defeating. These individuals are few and far between, and most tend to sympathize with one Clique over the others, as each is usually mutually-exclusive in their goals.

The Cliques revolve around how Beni'vel is to rule the Order of Nox, and exercise their authority within and outside the Court. As one can imagine, there are a multitude of opinions to choose from – but there are three in particular which are worth some special attention.

The first is the Traditionalist Clique, one that has been hemorrhaging support for several generations, especially following the death of Prince Arlon. Traditionalists effectively advocate for maintaining the status quo, with the relationship between the Royals and High Nobility remaining the same, to ensure that norms and traditions and the balance of power are maintained.

As tempting as it is to adjust the approach of House Beni'vel, they argue that to arbitrarily disrupt a system that has worked for thousands of years would lead to unpredictable risk, and could bring about the very thing they are trying to prevent. Traditionalists do plan to ensure that no more authorities are ceded, and some offshoots support gaining back the authorities that were surrendered – but the fundamental structures that make up the Order of Nox will remain untouched.

In essence, they prize stability over risk, though their arguments have been slowly losing sway with the Royal Family following the continued weakening of the Royal position. Several weak Sovereigns, a now-dead one, and a Princess-Regent and Crown Prince-in-waiting is a downward slope that hardly inspires confidence in the current direction.

The Traditionalists are the most supportive of Princess-Regent Copania, though they do not view her with unquestioned approval – as she refuses to give any single Clique sway. Thus, they are the most tolerant, but even they do not consult her regarding their own plans.

The second Clique of note are the Sovereigntists, who believe that it is far past time that the Royal Family reasserts their authority and power over Dromund Kaas. They are in favor of directly challenging the schemes and influence of the High Nobility – no matter what the fallout might be.

There is a strong belief that much of the High Nobility has forgotten their place, and that Beni'vel rules Dromund Kaas, full stop – now and forever. They support the formal reclamation of sovereignty over the Kaasian moon of Sami, and the direct annexation of important regions or territories across Dromund Kaas.

They want at least one major holding and estate within the domain of every Great House, across all continents, to fall under direct Beni'vel rule. As they find it stifling to be confined to the Black Islands. They intend to rally the Aristocracy behind them if they can execute this, and reiterate to whom they serve.

Such an approach would doubtless lead to instability, especially if the High Nobility calls their bluff or elects to challenge them directly – a very real possibility given current Beni'vel weakness. Nonetheless, the Sovereigntists believe a change in course is necessary, and a failure to act decisively will be death by a thousand cuts, and the Royal Family ultimately reduced to figureheads.

The third and final Clique of note are the most radical – the Iconoclasts, who go even further than the Sovereigntists in how they wish to deal with the High Nobility. This Clique has sub-factions within it, with the only disagreement being the extent to which they want to act.

Their core view is that they believe that the High Nobility has served their purpose, currently holds too much power, and should be substantially weakened as a result if not outright abolished. The most extreme Iconoclasts propose a large-scale purge of each High Noble House perceived of disloyalty, and the abolishment of the concept of the High Nobility entirely – effectively demoting them to the status of Noble Houses with no special privileges.

The larger, and less extreme Iconoclast faction proposes instead of purging the High Nobility, they dilute their power by elevating trusted Noble Houses with strong lineage to Beni'vel, breaking up the existing responsibilities of the High Nobility for a wider pool of candidates. In effect, they treat it as a reset of the entire High Nobility, which leaves Beni'vel in a very strong position, with a majority of this new High Nobility strongly influenced by the Royal Family.

Even the Iconoclasts know how dangerous this proposal is, and how high the chance of failure would be – though this is where it becomes interesting. There are rumors that they would seek the direct support of the Sith Collective if they gained the power to follow through.

This, by any metric, makes them radical to a degree not even Nox would approve of. The utilization of foreign powers to facilitate a palace coup is not a consideration for any other group, no matter their issues with the High Nobility.

Yet the Iconoclasts believe this action must be taken, and are looking not just to the future of the Royal Family, but the Order of Nox as a whole. The vast majority of progressive and modernization-focused members align with the Iconoclasts. Make of these facts what you will, but this Clique only seems to be growing.

Right now, each of these Cliques lacks the domination necessary to act with any decisiveness. Which is why they are each attempting to sway the Princess-Regent to their side – without success – and preparing to convince the Crown Prince of the superiority of their views.

One of these Cliques may gain sway in the future – and barring an unexpected development, it could lead to interesting times for the Order of Nox.

---

ON CROWN PRINCE LESTKO BENI'VEL, SOVEREIGN-IN-WAITING OF DROMUND KAAS

While the young Crown Prince has yet to assume the throne for several more years, his inevitable rise warrants attention. Some might believe it is a useless exercise when he is now but a boy – but all boys become men, and the mannerisms and attitudes exhibited in childhood shape their outlook as adults.

It is worth a closer examination.

Crown Prince Lestko Beni'vel is something of an enigma to many in the Dromund Court, if for no other reason than unlike his predecessors, he has little interest in engagement with them. An important point of clarification is that this is not a deliberate political gambit – it is simple disinterest.

The Crown Prince appears unenthused in his destiny, and it has resulted in greater strain being placed on his mother, for the High Nobility sense that when he inevitably rises, he will be a weak Sovereign. Such comes with opportunities that the Crown Prince is unprepared to deal with. His mother attempts to shield him from the worst of this scheming – how successful she is we can only speculate.

Lestko is sensitive to the Force and carries the blood of Nox within him. He is said to be able to wield the Force competently, and of acceptable power. Though what determines the worth of a Sovereign is never their power in the Force – as exemplified by his father – but how they can leverage their authority, and influence Court and noble alike.

He is a studious boy, and respectful to his teachers and peers. The Crown Prince is clearly intelligent, and many in the Royal Family are desperate to turn this intellect to the affairs of state and politics. At his current age, previous heirs were being introduced to the Court, and regularly accompanied their parents in their duties.

In contrast, Lestko is wholly divorced from the affairs at Court, and has only been seen at the most important engagements. While he was noted as being respectful to those attending and approaching him, it is clear that he did not want to be there, and departed at the first acceptable opportunity. His only public appearances otherwise are in his studies, where the children of other High Nobles also attend.

This, reader, is where we gain clearer insight into the character of the Crown Prince. He will not go out of his way to speak with nobles, but he does not have this reluctance speaking with peers his own age. Rarely about politics, to be clear, but subjects one might expect a young boy to be interested in. He has friends, though only a small number he appears comfortable with inviting to the Royal Palace to spend time with.

He is well-liked by his peers, though even they appear to have trouble seeing him as a future Sovereign. One might see this as grim news for an already-weakened Royal Family – but I would simply say that much can change in only a few years – and there are more than a few years before the young Beni'vel will take his father's place.

We shall see what kind of man he becomes, and if it will be Lestko who manages to unite his family and the Court alike.

---

ON PRINCESS-REGENT COPANIA DRELLIK-BENI'VEL, SOVEREIGN OF DROMUND KAAS, AND COUNCILOR OF THE ORDER OF DARTH NOX

One cannot look at the Princess-Regent Copania Drellik-Beni'vel and without seeing a tragedy in the making, if not one that has already come to pass.

It is thankless work to sit upon a throne that you are only saving for something else. None of the respect, little of the power, bereft of the pride that should be instilled in one holding so privileged a position.

Alas, fate did not turn in the favor of Copania.

Her marriage into the Royal Family was to be one of her greatest moments, and a point of pride for her family. She expected to be ruling alongside her husband, Prince Arlon, for decades to come. She expected to be changing the Order, raising her children, and uniting the Royal Family properly for the first time in decades. Together, it is likely that they would have been a formidable pair of Sovereigns, as her husband had been a man of vision and courtly power.

It is nonetheless a testament to her own presence and capability that the Princess-Regent has been able to maintain the status quo at Court, despite the Great Houses sensing weakness, and circling for blood. She is barely succeeding in this respect – but succeeding nonetheless, for she knows what happens if she fails.

It is difficult to articulate the exact situation the unfortunate Acting-Sovereign finds herself in – from the sheer isolation, to the circling nobles who see opportunities, a Royal Family that tolerates, yet ignores you; and a son whom you can barely spend time with, as your days and nights are consumed by attempting to prevent the walls from closing in, and the daggers burying themselves in your back.

The nobles have a curious perception of Copania – primarily that she is a weak, feckless Sovereign who exists to warm the seat for her son. That she is a figure barely worthy of consideration were it not out of respect for tradition – and because of the few allies she has maintained.

It is unfortunate this situation has created this perception, as it shrouds Copania's own competence in light of the circumstances. A lesser woman would have been unable to prevent the authorities of the Royal Family from being weakened further in this environment, yet Copania has succeeded, through a rallying of allies throughout Dromund Kaas – primarily facilitated by her grandfather, Deshyr Hidwar of House Drellik – to keep the worst vultures of the Court at bay, though it came at the cost of the relationship with Beniko.

Though we know that Beniko had been already shifting positions – Copania made the only logical choice, and so far, it has been the correct one.

For now.

She is aware of the tenuous position she is in, and how one miscalculation, or one betrayal could topple this precarious position. Yet she persists all the same, even as she contends with wrangling a divided Royal Family whose factions seek to make her their puppet – as she is seen by them as an outsider, a Drellik, a pretender who dares think she should be anything more.

She has few allies outside of the Royal Family, and fewer inside, as she was widowed only years into their marriage, and had no time to integrate herself before taking the position of Princess-Regent through necessity. As far as the House of Beni'vel is concerned, her only contribution of note was Lestko.

Her son has become her driving motivation – though she worries for his future, as he will inherit a divided family, enter a Court that senses weakness, while Shan and Drellik both angle to puppet or subvert the Royal Family for their own agendas. He will enter into a dangerous period, where his future may not be of his own accord.

She wishes to prevent this future, and leave a situation where he will at least be able to choose his destiny.

Drellik has been rather lenient as it concerns their support to the Royal Family – but Copania doubtless expects that they will soon call in their favors, which she will be forced to pay lest her political situation worsen. It is certain she is working on contingencies to mitigate this possibility, and with the rumored insights of the Sovereign Eyes, the enduring loyalty of Zavros, she may find an unlikely solution.

But let us be blunt, reader, the cold, harsh truth is that her options are limited, and she may be in a box she cannot escape.

One can tell just by looking at her how this role has changed her in only a decade. Where she was vibrant and young once, barely past the age of twenty-five, and one of the youngest Sovereigns to take the throne, today she has the demeanor and appearance of someone much older. Eyes that are weary and shrunken, a face rendered gaunt through stress, as streaks of gray accent raven hair.

Copania makes little effort to hide how much she has aged despite so little time passing. The superficial does not matter to her, so long as she can secure the future of the Royal Family and her son – a demonstration of loyalty to a family that has done little to accept her, even after these many years.

Yet such was the commitment she made to the Royal Family when she married into it, and she intends to see her duty through to the end.

---

ON THE MANDALORIANS OF THE ALLIANCE

Those amongst you who are familiar with Darth Nox's cadre during the war with Zakuul might have noticed that there has been little said about her other allies during that time. What of the Zakuulian defectors or the criminal elements like the Black Sun or the Hutt Cartels? What of the obscure Luka Sene who joined the Alliance late in the war?

The truth is these answers lack the drama one might expect. Some were exterminated or disbanded. Others were subsumed into other organizations or even the Aristocracy itself. But there is one that stands out, that survives even to this day – though it is as foreign to its forebears as the Quabular.

Shae Vizla's Mandalorians – today known as the 'Vizlavian Guard.'

I am afraid that this requires a historical tangent to properly explain how such a thing came about – and it begins with the Mandalorians of the era. Mandalorians are a people who are often stereotyped and misunderstood – by both their advocates and detractors alike, especially as to the diversity of their internal politics, beliefs, and divisions.

Mandalorians are often portrayed as honorable warriors, or ruthless barbarians, with the average person finding it difficult to imagine a Mandalorian who does not fit their perceived stereotype. Even today, the average citizen – or perhaps even yourself – believes you know who the Mandalorians supported during the Galactic War between the Republic and Sith Empire.

Everyone.

Let me disabuse you of the idea that all Mandalorians hold identical codes or virtues. Mandalorian clans come in all stripes, sympathies, and ideologies. Mandalorian factions could be found supporting the Empire, others working for the Republic, and still more remaining independent. Others acted as mercenaries and hired guns for criminal organizations, slaving rings, or oligarchs, all in pursuit of notoriety or credits.

There was not one single Mandalore at this time, but a plethora of separate claimants, each of them aligning with the faction that would gain them the ability to unite the clans under their authority. Technically, we know that there was an official Mandalore who controlled core Mandalorian Space, but he was weak, impotent, and ignored – so much so that history remembers him as 'Mandalore the Lesser.'

Much of this status quo between the warring clans continued uninterrupted until the emergence of a new type of Mandalorian who proved so dangerous and threatening that nearly all of the surviving Mandalorians united to stop him – Mandalore the Prophesized, and his Quabular.

The tale of the Quabular is a fascinating one, as well as the impact it had specifically on Mandalorian history, and the domino effect that began with their arrival. But that is another story – all you need know is that even as the Eternal Empire marched across the galaxy, there was a second, smaller war raging between Mandalore the Prophesized and Mandalore the Purifier, who led the united Mandalorian clans.

This will be a relevant, but distant, element to the story we are about to discuss.

We now turn to one Shae, of Clan Vizla. Vizla was one of the most infamous Mandalorian Clans in the galaxy. They who had no master but themselves, not even those who claimed to be Mandalore. Who would do anything as long as the price was right. Shunned by the more noble clans, and distrusted by all others, Vizla made their own way in a violent galaxy, becoming both wealthy and infamous in the process.

Shae was not a woman who embodied traditional Mandalorian virtues beyond her military prowess. There are some who romanticize this woman with her fiery mane as a bulwark of virtue against the hordes of Zakuulian warriors that had come to subjugate them, or a true Mandalorian whose example is to be emulated.

Thoughts only held by the ignorant or delusional. Little could be further from the truth.

Shae was a Vizla; a mercenary whose trail of corpses would make any Sith envious – to say nothing of her proximity to major galactic events. She took part in the Sacking of Coruscant. She was on the frontlines of the imperial subjugation of Balmorra. There are dozens of events of violence and massacre where Shae and Clan Vizla were front and center often in the center of.

Their reputation – and notoriety – grew as a result.

It is perhaps unsurprising that she is nearly exclusively tied to the Sith Empire, as few in the Republic even considered her services, or those of her clan. Vizla was disgraced among even Imperial-aligned clans, but it was this reputation that brought her to the attention of Darth Nox – where she was hired to take part in the Kaggath on Corellia against Darth Thanaton.

One can imagine how that played out, and Shae acquitted herself well in the bloody battle, taking trophies from soldier, mercenary, and Sith alike. Her performance impressed Nox enough that she kept Shae and Clan Vizla on a permanent retainer – empowering them with the best weapons and technologies of the Empire.

Shae took part in numerous campaigns under Nox, through the Revanite War, and up until the invasion of the Eternal Empire.

Shae was driven underground like everyone else, but kept in contact with Nox's disciples and associates. Once Lana and Theron began developing a more substantial resistance, it wasn't long before she joined them, playing an early leading role in the nascent Alliance. It was at this time when Mandalore the Purifier rose to unite the clans against Mandalore the Prophesized and his rampaging Quabular.

It is believed that Shae petitioned Mandalore for aid against the Eternal Alliance – but was rejected, due to Vizla being tainted, and an inability of the Mandalorians to support the effort while the Quabular remained a threat. However, that did not mean nothing was done.

To the surprise of many within and outside the Mandalorian clans, Mandalore the Purifier did instill in Shae a rare, almost unprecedented authority: the 'Ne'tra-kal.' Depending on your translation, it means either 'ambassador' or 'champion.'

In essence, it allowed her to act and recruit with the sanction of Mandalore, which would make it easier for her to unite other Mandalorians against the Eternal Empire, or bring other clans in line. It is believed this was made with the understanding that Nox's Alliance would assist them with the Quabular in return.

An understanding that was met, to the knowledge of our records. In the meantime, Shae had the authority to act in an unprecedented manner. She was not Mandalore, but something adjacent to it. An implicit acknowledgement of the threat of Zakuul.

When Nox was freed, and the Alliance expanded, Shae was able to begin developing her own organization, and implement a more coherent understanding of her Mandalorian view. It is worth reiterating that she was a Vizla, and her methods were far different from what you may have expected.

She wrangled, intimidated, and threatened all disparate, independent, and disgraced Mandalorian clans who had not joined the Purifier into serving under her. She had no qualms about crushing clans who did not obey, while offering Vizla as a refuge to the disgraced clans to escape the Purifier's wrath.

There was little 'traditional' honor in Shae's Mandalorians. They were utterly merciless against the Zakuulians and those who collaborated with them. Shae worked to entice, recruit, and poach the best Imperial and Republican soldiers into her clan, as well as Jedi and Sith – particularly those who had a penchant for violence, and a personal animosity toward Zakuul.

In practice, they operated as a mixture of guerilla, terror, and special operations forces under Nox. If something needed to be done without regard for life or morality, Shae's Mandalorians carried it out. They soon gained a reputation in the Eternal Empire that pierced the propaganda, and were feared even as far as core Zakuulian Space

However, they were a relatively small part of a much larger war effort, and as the war continued, more radical evolutions were taken.

As the war grew more desperate, Shae implemented one of the most controversial policies associated with any Mandalorian – the usage of penal battalions. The 'Loras Aranar' were formed with Nox's approval – officially translated to 'Redemptionary Battalions,' keen observers will point out it actually translates to 'Meat Shield.' Subtly is for the weak, or so the Clan Vizla proverb goes. The Battalions consisted of individuals convicted of various crimes within the Alliance, collaborators, and Zakuulian POWs, who were offered the opportunity to redeem themselves in service of the war effort.

These were disposable soldiers, managed and utilized by Clan Vizla. They were used as cannon fodder, in suicide missions, or as distractions. It was a means of employing the useless and the criminal in a meaningful way instead of simply detaining or executing them.

It is rumored that Mandalore the Purifier nearly declared a Blood Hunt against Shae when he learned of this. Instead, he stripped her of the Ne'tra-kal title, removing the legitimacy she had enjoyed – a decision he likely knew made little difference now, but it removed his personal culpability for her activities. What Shae had established was self-sustaining, and with Nox's protection, she no longer needed the approval of 'true' Mandalorians.

All of this leads to the final assault against Empress Vaylin, where Shae herself took part in the offensive – and perished along with many others against the mad Empress.

We know what followed afterwards.

A large contingent of Shae's Mandalorians were on Dromund Kaas when the Dark Age began, and without her iron-clad leadership, it quickly fell apart. With the onset of the era, the polyglot clan she'd forged was isolated and left without purpose or reason.

Many of them degenerated into what they had been before. Base criminals. Murderers. Thieves. Mercenaries. However, in this early period, they thrived where others fell. They organized and raided outposts and cities for food and supplies, before retreating into the harsh jungles where they could survive.

Over time, these bands consolidated themselves, and began actively attacking those who would one day make up the Aristocracy. However, this was only part of the former Clan Vizla – there were others who remained with Beniko and Nox's allies, serving as they always had before. However, where they had once served as Shae's unscrupulous hammer, they had become a noble shield.

They were used to protect convoys, farms, and food supplies. They were sent to destroy criminals and raiders. There was a new focus and motivation forming within the newer generation of Clan Vizla unlike anything before. Forged by necessity, and by Vizla Mandalorians who saw an opportunity in realizing their idealized incarnations.

This slow process of realignment of their mission, values, and priorities was encouraged by the proto-nobles, spearheaded by the Beni'vels. Selective bribery and assassination further shifted the internal dynamics of the clan until they were ruled by those more amenable to cooperation – culminating in a concentrated effort by the Beni'vels to have them exterminate rival Vizla factions.

It took decades before the last rogue Vizla was hunted down – but it was accomplished, leaving only the strongest allies of this new nobility. However, their current incarnation evolved during the rise of Princess Orin.

When Orin acted to destroy those plotting against her, Clan Vizla played a major role in the arrest, pursuit, and execution of the traitors. When Orin reorganized the new nobility, she similarly reformed Clan Vizla into the Vizlavian Guard – the final evolution of what had once been a collection of uncouth raiders and criminals into a knightly fraternity; one that placed honor and duty as its highest virtues – and loyalty to the Beni'vel Sovereign first and foremost.

No more raiding. No more scheming. No more disgrace. They were to be the exemplary warriors of Dromund Kaas. They would serve no one before House Beni'vel – a position buttressed by several political marriages with lesser sons and daughters of the future Royal Family. They have served this role ever since – truly becoming something unique in the tapestry of the Dromund milieu.

That is a sufficient history lesson.

Let us move to the Vizlavian Guard proper.

---

ON THE VIZLAVIAN GUARD

It is likely your expectations for the Vizlavian Guard have been shifted following the story of their origins. You might now expect them to emulate a more traditional, honorable, incarnation of this warrior people.

Not entirely.

While it is true that the Vizlavian Guard has eschewed the criminal and violent nature that once dogged them, one may find it difficult to argue that they are truly 'Mandalorian' beyond the aesthetics of their attire, and their enduring warrior culture.

The Vizlavian Guard holds a unique place within the Aristocracy. They are both deeply connected to it through their blood connection to the Beni'vels – and also as apolitical as one can be within the system. Other than their redoubt on the moon of Regi, they do not formally control any land. They have no influence on politics, nor partake of the Court.

They are charged with protecting the Dromund System and the Aristocracy from harm, as well as ensuring the stable rule of the Beni'vels. This manifests itself in several ways. In many respects, they are the closest incarnation of a standing army that answers to the state Sovereign, and they effectively control what constitutes the Dromund navy.

They are presented as a neutral force, who guards and protects critical individuals and locations of note – but answer only to the Sovereign's authority.

They are rightly viewed as an extension of the Royal Family, but ironically, are often more trusted because they execute no schemes of their own, and are respected for being skilled and powerful warriors in their own right. There are a multitude of Force-users in the Vizlavian ranks as a result of political marriages to lesser scions of House Beni'vel long ago, and they have carried on many Mandalorian military traditions.

However much of their Mandalorian identity has been lost or abandoned. While Mando'a is not completely forgotten, few speak it fluently. They do not consider themselves a 'clan' so much as a fraternal order sworn to maintain the supremacy of the Beni'vel Sovereign.

They did perhaps maintain one of the more important Mandalorian traditions – that of adoption and integration, though not in the same manner. Anyone can theoretically join the Vizlavian Guard – however, it is a privilege allowed to only those who prove themselves.

The Vizlavian Guard is an anomaly in a world dominated by familial institutions. They are the one institution that literally anyone can join – they possess a higher mission, and have higher standards as a result.

One must be skilled, dedicated, resilient, and loyal. The Guard has a series of tests for this known as the 'Tal-Munad' – or the 'Trials of Joining.' These push every applicant to their limits, and the trials are lethal in nature. Some are straightforward – such as testing one's survival in the Kaasian jungles, or being questioned by a Vizlavian Force-user on one's loyalties. Yet some are harrowing, and require being subjected to physical and mental anguish.

Some commoners are under a delusion that the Guard are a ticket to nobility. They are quickly debussed of this notion, or they learn too late the costs involved.

While many believe that this opportunity is primarily for the commoners, it is also open to any of the Aristocracy – the Guard does not discriminate. However, to join is to forsake everything you were or had before.

Your heritage. Your titles. Your wealth. Your authority. Your name. You are no longer of your noble house – you are part of the Guard, and will die as one of its members. Those who attempt to leave are made examples of.

There is also an element that ties into a practice that is drawn from Shae's Redemptionary Battalions – for nobles who have disgraced themselves or are facing punishment, there is a way to spare themselves.

They can undertake the Tal-Munad.

It is a choice made out of desperation, and one that will almost certainly lead to their demise – but the Guard believes that there should be an avenue open to those who have disgraced themselves. While Shae's Battalions were a false hope for its members, those who do pass the trials are fully accepted into the Guard unconditionally.

Technically, it requires the blessing of the Sovereign for the Vizlavian Guard to accept such an applicant, but historically, the Sovereigns have never denied their right to invoke this privilege.

The Guard holds a place within the Order's psyche that is atypical, and one of almost unvarnished virtue. They are an example to aspire to, and the standard that children are taught to reach. An individual that is honest, direct, honorable, loyal, and pure. A childhood hero, in so many words, and it is not uncommon for a Vizlavian warrior to be the protagonist of children's stories on Dromund Kaas.

Ironic, considering their origins.

Yet the Guard is so far removed from Clan Vizla that it is almost pointless to make comparisons. Though be wary of making assumptions based on children's fables – while the Guard is presented as apolitical and virtuous, the violence and ruthlessness of their forebears is still an indelible aspect of their character.

All the Sovereign need do is issue an order, and their enemies are smote.

---

ON THE VIZLAVIAN WARRIORS

The role of the Vizlavian Guard within the context of the Kaasian noble systems has been covered, but what does that mean in practice? How would one describe the warriors of the Vizlavian Guard?

One will first note their attire. It is Mandalorian in design, or a clear derivative. Yet one will see that the plate is thicker, the armor bulkier, and often lacking many of the technological gadgets that are seen amongst Mandalorians you are more familiar with.

Some of this is a romantic holdover from the centuries of deprivation, where the Guard was forced to fight with limited resources, and lacked the technology their modern peers enjoyed. This has evolved into an ascetic tradition that spurns the frivolous nature of modernity. The Guard finds little appeal in grappling hooks, wrist rockets, and flamethrowers when a powerful blaster will do the trick more often than not.

There are differing opinions within the Vizlavian Guard as to what is acceptable, and what is not. You will find Vizlavians who adapt modern technology into their arsenal, and others who stubbornly retain their limited kit – comfortable with their current level of lethality. Often, those with the Force will eschew all augmenting technologies, while those without seek to hone their edge.

All of the Guard bears the colors of the Royal Family, either on the armor itself, or its numerous adornments. Many of them do not use jetpacks, due to such being impractical during the Dark Age. Those that do utilize a more primitive jetpack, which has limited bursts, and has a physical gliding component to it. It is a striking sight to see, and these particular Vizlavians are known as the Vizlavian Hunters, owing to their more aggressive and mobile style of combat.

However, the most common warrior is that for which this body was named: the Vizlavian Guardian. They hold a relatively simple role, and these warriors can be seen across Dromund Kaas and Fels alike. That said, they are most often concentrated within the territories and landmarks of the Royal Family.

They are highly skilled soldiers, who train against each other and their noble peers, and often test themselves against the elements and wildlife of Dromund Kaas itself. Do not let the name fool you – while their role is basic, their skillset makes them equivalent to some of the best soldiers you'd find in the Galactic Core, or Imperial Space.

Then there are the exemplars of the Guard, the elite of the elite.

Have you ever faced a Mandalorian Supercommando, dear reader? Have you heard the legends or perhaps seen the holovids? Have you ever imagined what such a force would become if they were also sensitive to the Force?

The Royal Family of Dromund Kaas is protected by such warriors. The Force-users of the Guard are without question the equal of many equivalents within the High Nobility. They devote their lives to the mastery of body, weapon, and mind.

They utilize no jetpacks, instead wearing capes that fall from their armored pauldrons. Their armor is slimmer than most, as they prioritize mobility over protection. They carry no lightsabers, for those are the weapons of the Aristocracy. Instead, they wield what is often associated with a less civilized age.

Flanged maces, spears, quarterstaves, war hammers; these primitive weapons and more fill the arsenal of these warriors. In the hands of the Vizlavian Praetorians, these become weapons of death. Once made out of durasteel, today these weapons are often forged from true beskar – while those that are not will be forged with a cortosis-weave. These Praetorians primarily serve as bodyguards or advisors to the Beni'vels, and on occasion, act as their voices or messengers.

They are the leaders of the Vizlavian Guard in deployments, only ultimately answering to the Shaen of the Vizlavian Guard – and of course, the Beni'vel nobles.

The Guard may no longer resemble a conventional Mandalorian force, but make no mistake, they will wage war like one.

---

ON MALOTA, SHAEN OF THE VIZLAVIAN GUARD

The Vizlavian Guard is a formidable organization, one that requires formidable leadership. They have millennia of history to live up to. Though they are appointed by the Sovereign, no one leads the Guard for any reason other than being the best. This is reflected in the title they take upon assuming their role. In honor of their forebear, the leader of the Vizlavian Guard takes the title 'Shaen.'

While there are some exceptions throughout the Guard's storied history, the Guard has almost exclusively been led by descendants of the old political marriages with the Beni'vel – some branches even claim descent from Shae Vizla herself. Due to the infusion of Beni'vel genes, these descendants maintain a strong propensity for Force-sensitivity. This is the real reason behind their continued dominance in the leadership, as the Guard eschews formal hereditary positions in favor of merit.

The Shaen of the Vizlavian Guard has two primary responsibilities – first, to lead the Guard and its operations, the second is to serve as an advisor for the reigning Sovereigns. It is purely at their pleasure, and unlike other advisors, the Vizlavian Shaen cannot offer unsolicited advice, even if they must be prepared to give it if asked.

Sometimes the Shaen is the most important and influential advisor to the Sovereign, and other times they are ignored altogether. Most Sovereigns tend to involve them to a lesser degree, but they are often considered less knowledgeable on certain matters of politics than others – which is a reasonable stance to take.

We come to the current Shaen of the Vizlavian Guard – Malota, a man who differs in some important ways from his predecessors. He is not the most physically imposing, nor even the most powerful of the Praetorians, but he has a skill that made Prince Arlon specifically handpick him for the role – he was good at politics.

Malota commands attention when parted from his helmet – his flame-colored hair a dead-giveaway of his relation to Shae Vizla herself. He was outgoing and charming, and was a rather popular figure throughout the Court – a relative rarity for any amongst the Guard.

He also has a holographic and audiographic memory; possessing perfect recollection concerning everyone he meets, and every conversation he takes part in – or overhears. Arlon, almost certainly realizing the usefulness of such a talent, began utilizing him in a more substantial role within the Royal Family. Combined with his rare political aptitude, Malota would become an invaluable tool in maintaining the cohesion of House Beni'vel.

Arlon had intended to have him take an active role in managing the internal Cliques in Beni'vel and helping unify the various viewpoints. Malota became one of Arlon's primary advisors, with Arlon handling the external politics, and Malota handling the internal ones. Together, both could have likely created the strongest incarnation of the Royal Family in decades, if not centuries.

Alas, it was not to be.

With Arlon's death, all such plans were abandoned. Malota has shifted his focus to first and foremost supporting the Princess-Regent, and in lieu of her husband, she has relied heavily on him to help maintain her standing within the Royal Family. While she has faced uncertainty as an outsider, Malota lacks this intrinsic bias, and has used his standing to push Copania's direction within Beni'vel at her discreet request.

This is in addition to his duties commanding the Guard, though these are more standardized compared to the internal and external politics, and many can be delegated to others. Day-to-day, Malota can often be found accompanying the Princess-Regent or the Crown Prince, as he is one of the few people Copania trusts with her son and heir.

While Malota is not the most dangerous of the active Vizlavian Praetorians, his title speaks for itself, and he is a highly skilled warrior that is more than capable of facing any Jedi – or Sith. He is known to wield a beskar spear, along with a single-handed war hammer in combat – and is also a rather proficient practitioner of using telepathy in battle.

Malota was elevated to his position for a specific reason, and many had believed that with Arlon's death, another would be elevated to the position – and internally, several of Copania's advisors have suggested she do just that. However, it appears that the Princess-Regent is more in line with her late husband than present counsel.

And with how few individuals are firmly on her side, it is likely Malota will remain in his position until the Crown Prince sits on the throne.

---

ON THE SOVEREIGN EYES

Let us speak of pure conjecture and ceaseless rumor, dear reader. I've mentioned this group previously, and hinted at their connection to the Royal Family, but I offered no explanation. The reason is self-evident.

There is nothing to explain.

The Sovereign Eyes are a legend whispered in the dark corners at Court. A secret network of informants loyal to the Royal Family alone. They report back on the dealings of the nobles and the commoners alike. That they've never once been caught in the millennia of their supposed existence does little to quell the rumors.

What are we to make of this? Is it possible to create such an inscrutable organization? Agents who cannot be broken for they cannot be found? I'm tempted to write it all off as nonsense if not for the fact that the rumor persists amongst those who should know better. Surely it is not an act, else why continue the façade in private conversations?

On the surface, one assumes these are merely deeply-embedded operatives managed by the Shan Ciphers – and yet, the rumor is discussed as much by the Shans as any family.

From what we know – or rather, don't – the Eyes are in plain sight, and always have been. A secret observer from the Palace, obvious and invisible at the same time. Not a threat to you, unless you make yourself a threat to stability – or to the Royal Family. Their purpose is to watch and listen and report and interpret. No more, no less.

The reigning Sovereign will determine what to do with such information, but the Eyes are simply a resource. They will never act to undermine, sabotage, or otherwise interfere – only watch. The Royal Family has other tools for taking direct action.

That is what is 'known' about the Sovereign Eyes, again, there is no physical or even circumstantial evidence that they exist or have ever existed. And yet, the Dromund Court treats them with a level of caution far in excess of all reason.

One wonders precisely at this paranoia, for the composition of many of the Aristocracy is not that of ordinary people, but those who are powerful in the Force. If one believed they were being watched, would it not be a simple matter to sense it? Why are the masters of subterfuge such as Shan or Xalek, or those masters of the dark arts like Drellik seemingly as ignorant as the Gentry?

There are two possible answers that are presented. Either it is indeed raw paranoia – subtle and insidious enough to infect all of the Aristocracy – or the Beni'vels possess a tool or power that no one else has nor can even conceive of what it might be.

It raises questions no matter the truth, yet often perception matters more than reality.

There was once a head of a Noble Family whose terror of the rumors grew from mere paranoia to outright mania. He saw Eyes everywhere. He saw them amongst his staff. He saw them amongst his family. He saw them amongst his children. And he acted on those fears.

For weeks he perpetrated unspeakable tortures upon his underlings, first only a few, with many confessing, in fact, and denouncing others in the household. The dungeons and graveyards alike rapidly swelled with occupants until the heir himself was accused. The Noble systematically killed his family in his quest to rid himself of the Eyes he saw, and he nearly succeeded but for a surprise raid on his estate by the Vizlavian Guard.

Upon realizing what was happening, the Noble slew as many of the perceived 'traitors' as he could before he was seized and the compound secured. Only the heir, two infants, and a handful of commoner servants had been spared in the Noble's mad quest to purge his family of spies.

The Noble was brought before the Beni'vel Sovereign at the time and one can imagine what was done to him. A ritual of humiliation and torture that had not been seen since the days of Princess Orin, yet this time was supported by the entirety of the Court who were just as aghast and horrified by the slaughter.

He was first stripped of all his privileges – beginning with his titles, and concluding with his connection to the Force. His death was slow. Excruciating mental and physical torment was inflicted for hours – one for each of his victims. The spectacle lasted for days without pause. During the process, the Sovereign prevented the loss of his sanity, forcing him to remain aware for each agonizing moment before concluding his execution in a deliciously cruel manner – pun intended. The condemned former Noble was consumed by Khem Val, the personal dashade guardian of the Sovereign.

Ironically, far from dissuading the believers, this fracas is still referenced as evidence of the existence of the Sovereign Eyes. The purge was pure madness, but it was also done in secret at an isolated estate. Most believe the Noble's prolonged death was intended as a warning to any who wished to investigate this rumor further.

A warning that they would fail in the attempt, and that all that awaited them was a fate where one longed for death.

It is the enduring mystery of the Dromund Court, and the Beni'vels themselves. An enigma, dear reader, perhaps one you will unravel yourself.

---

ON RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORDERS

Now, considering the history Nox has with more than one of the Sith whose Orders grace our Collective, it is natural to wonder of the relationship the Order of Darth Nox has with these esteemed Orders.

All remain cognizant of the One Rule.

No one forgets it.

The Order of Revan is discussed in their respective chapter, but it is again necessary to highlight the distaste both Orders have for each; an enmity that runs deep, even if pragmatism and fear of violating the One Rule ensures that this enmity remains only that – distaste.

To go further risks more than either Order is willing to endure.

The Order of Nox considers the Order of Revan to be pretenders to a false legacy of a man who is best remembered as a traitor to Jedi and Sith alike. As far as they are concerned, they are the only Order who can hold legitimate claim to the bloodline and legacy of Revan. Any others are pretenders – and they hold no small amount of pride in Nox's triumph over this pretender.

As one can easily infer, they cordially detest one another. There is little else to say.

It is their relations with the other two Orders of note – Jadus and Vitiate – that are worth a closer examination.

Nox's relationship to Emperor Jadus was one of tension – but ultimately not conflict. Not because Nox did not disagree, or even despise Jadus – but because of wariness. Some might claim fear.

For no one, not Nox, not Marr, not even the Emperor's Wrath was ever able or willing to challenge Jadus's rule as emperor. Nox held deep philosophical and ideological differences with the esteemed Emperor – but her respect, tempered by fear, stayed her hands and mouth.

Would the Kaasian Nobility bristle at such a claim? Would they denounce it? Deny it? Perhaps, but the truth does not discriminate, and I have little interest in pretending that Nox held equivalency to Emperor Jadus during his reign. After all, if she did, then Jadus would not have ruled without challenge, would he?

It is all the more notable that echoes of this dynamic have once more emerged between the Order of Darth Nox and the Order of Emperor Jadus.

A dynamic of pretend indifference to the other – masked by a healthy fear. The esteemed Darth Timoris visited Dromund Kaas only once since founding of her Order, and she has left an indelible impression on the Court and on Nox itself. With a single visit, Darth Timoris changed the course of the Order of Nox. Chaos has engulfed the Royal Family with the death of their Sovereign, and now we wait to see how the Court adapts.

A message, some might claim. A warning, others would say. Incentive, more have proposed.

Why? Or for what?

That is a matter between both Orders. I do not have the answer.

The fact remains that the Order of Jadus is the singular Order to whom the Order of Nox will be conciliatory, if not deferential to. Is it submission? Or is it an alignment of interests? Is this relationship adversarial? Or are they an ally?

Much may not be as it seems, and at Court, appearances are deceptive. What we might see as a display of weakness may be a ploy, of which both Sith and the Kaasian Nobility enjoy engaging in.

Though one must be careful to see the truth, and not fall to assumptions or stereotypes. What we see with our eyes and hear with our ears – or whatever organs are appropriate to you, dear reader – may be exactly as it seems. I have not the insight or mind to judge or decide one way or another.

That is for you, reader. When dealing with the Order of Nox, you must be able to pierce the veil, and separate truth from lies.

Concerning relations with the Order of Emperor Vitiate – the simple, curious answer is that neither Order particularly engages with the other. The Order of Vitiate has not sought to meet, and the Order of Nox has reciprocated in kind. This mutual choice is notable in and of itself.

Is it uneasiness? Apathy? Wariness? Or merely that the historical links between Nox and Vitiate were too brief and tenuous for either to justify the effort in developing a friendly – or adversarial – relationship?

Or perhaps this is nothing consequential. A mystery that was not to be.

Of course, alliances and enmities can develop and evolve and cease a thousand times over. Until this point, however, keep what has been written here in mind, reader.

The final Order of note is the Order of Emperor Palpatine. As mentioned above, Palpatine has sent observers to Court on numerous occasions, and Darth Altis has been hosted and toasted at several soirées. The true nature of this relationship, however, is opaque, as all true diplomacy should be, and whether or not it extends to the Order of Nox as a whole or merely the Dromund Court is open to interpretation.

Ponder what you have learned – and employ it to your advantage.

---

CONCLUSION

I believe that covers everything.

Well, for one final matter.

There is one topic that I have avoided throughout this chapter, one that I wonder if you considered initially, before it faded from your mind. If I have done an adequate enough job, the picture that I have painted in your mind is one of a certain fantasy, one with courts, intrigue, old families, schemes, and plots – all of which is true.

It is a fantastical tale, one that may even have a certain appeal.

I have written at length about the Aristocracy, the dynamics of Court, and the characters driving the intrigue on the Dromund worlds – but I have not addressed perhaps a very relevant question for you.

How might one join this Order?

The answer may disappoint you.

Unlike the other Orders which comprise the Collective, the Order of Darth Nox, for reasons that are likely clearer, does not accept outsiders. This is not a formal organization, or even a state, but a composition of dynasties, aristocrats, and noble families.

They do not 'recruit' new members, and profess little or no interest in attracting talent beyond the families and citizens of the Dromund worlds. It is likely they would find few takers even if they did so, because I suspect few would look at the labyrinth that is the Order of Darth Nox, and enter it willingly.

Perhaps you are the exception?

Read on, if you are, for there is a narrow pathway for the truly committed.

For those who are particularly clever, ambitious, and possess something of worth… well, there may be a way to integrate yourself within this opaque Order.

One must be exceptional to even be considered for elevation into the Aristocracy – especially as an outsider. You are a stranger to them. You are alien in worldview and culture. You are different. You have every disadvantage.

But that alone cannot stop you, can it?

Disadvantages do not translate to impossibilities. Indeed, there are several Sith who have sought to enter the Order of Nox and join the ranks of the Aristocracy, be it through distinguishing themselves with feats of cleverness or strength, impressing members of the High Nobility, or even the Royal Family, or simply marrying into one of the Houses.

For a particularly powerful and dashing Sith, that is often quite attractive to many nobles who wish that power for themselves – though you must ask yourself what you are worth. A question that I cannot answer, only to encourage you to not settle.

Do you still wish to pursue this?

Let none stop you if so, for now you comprehend what you enter. You elect to leave the familiar, and embrace the unknown and alien. You reject the comfort and clarity of this life, and enter into the exciting intrigue and secrets of old families and scheming houses.

I can assure you – this is unlike any other Order in the Collective. It is one that will consume you – or one you will thrive in. I can see little in-between, for the Court is merciless to those who make mistakes, and smothering to the unambitious.

Yet do not let this alone dissuade you. Power, opportunity, and belonging are all things that can be achieved within the Order of Darth Nox.

It merely requires the resolve to seize them.

Tread carefully, should you elect to walk the halls of the Dromund Court, reader.

I would hate to learn of your untimely demise if you do not.

---

Xabiar's Note: Getting off on a good note with 2024 for SotP. I asked SLotH4 what would be good to focus on, and he suggested Nox. Simple, I thought, since I had a partially-completed outline, which as usual, with more attention and refinement, expanded quite a bit, but I'm pretty happy with it.

Getting to write more about the Old Republic is always fun, and slowly, surely, there is a coherent picture of what exactly happened. Both the Vitiate and Jadus outlines got done in the process of this, too, so if you want to know what Sith Addenda may come next, it's a good bet it'll be one of them.

Not sure what will come next for SotP, but hopefully it won't be too far in the future before there's another update. I hope that you found it interesting, and as usual, feel free to leave feedback!

SLotH4's Note: Having recently binged "House of the Dragon" with my fiancée, I can really appreciate the feudal aesthetic the Order of Nox brings to the proceedings. Something fun and daring and marvelous. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I have.