SotP Addenda - Sith Collective, of Shadow and Darkness
ON THE WORLDS OF THE SITH COLLECTIVE
ON THE PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
Let us pause for a moment, reader.
Relax. Breathe. Contemplate.
I have outlined in great detail several of the Orders that make up our Collective. Their philosophies, their leaders, their histories, and their ambitions. From how they organize themselves, to who their followers are – I trust that you now have a deeper understanding and appreciation not only of the breadth of Sith philosophy, but of each Order in turn.
But this is merely an insular look at a single organization, even one as rich as a Sith Order.
Each Order is part of the Sith Collective, but I have said little detailing what this means until now.
Alliances between Sith, especially in this manner, are fraught with mistrust, deceit, and suspicion – not without reason. I have outlined how Lady Vathila identified this crippling paranoia and ideological incompatibility as a weakness – and dealt with the Banites in a most decisive fashion when they refused to integrate.
You have doubtless picked up certain elements and aspects of the wider Sith Collective, but you have no clear picture, as I have not elaborated what we are like in practice.
Let me remedy that.
Pause for a moment, reader. Reflect on what you have learned, and ask yourself what the Sith Collective could be.
What do you imagine? What do you expect?
Do you see a robust, interconnected alliance? A fragmented confederation of Orders sharing an overarching goal? Or perhaps you do not even expect this much, but instead envision an enemy of my enemy expedient tempered by suspicion and paranoia.
The truth is rarely so straightforward.
Each Sith Order has its unique talents and foci; each possesses its own distinct philosophy and worldview. Some are naturally more suited to certain tasks and objectives than others.
Few would dispute the imperial acumen of the Order of Snoke, or the adroit politicking of the Order of Palpatine, or the warrior spirit of the Orders of Revan, Krayt, and Kaan.
I simplify, reader, but you understand the point I make – each Order is a piece of the grand effort to conquer the galaxy, and destroy the Jedi. To this end, a simple alliance where we are merely aligned in goal and nothing more is insufficient for victory.
We would have been discovered and ruined long ago if this is the case.
So let us speak of the Sith Collective.
It is, in some respects, a new experience. Some will point to the older Sith empires and orders, and claim that these were also periods where the Sith were, by and large, united. Partially true, but it ignores something substantial – each of these empires were dominated by singular overarching individuals.
Ones who were often… unkind to their ideological rivals. And even then, this merely suppressed the dissidence, it did not remove it. Vitiate's absence allowed Jadus to rise, and Jadus's fall allowed Nox to ascend. The Rule of Two allowed each Sith to forge and develop their own philosophy free of fear of betrayal or being overthrown.
The Sith Collective is not merely an incarnation of our people like in the past – it is the equivalent of the Empires of Ragnos, Vitiate, Revan, Jadus, Nox, Palpatine, the First Order, and Kaan's Brotherhood all brought together and working towards a singular goal.
Do you grasp the absurdity when presented like it?
Yet it exists all the same.
Hence why this is new territory for our people – and by the Force, we will hold to this discipline until the galaxy is in the hands of Sith.
The Sith Collective is, as stated previously, not a simple alliance, but enables ongoing coordination between Orders on the objectives, priorities, and goals of the Sith as a whole. The High Council of the Sith Collective is the highest mechanism to discuss and address these matters.
I have decided to highlight the Sith Collective in more detail in this section because it is where this cooperation manifests most directly, and the breadth of the Sith Collective can be most easily visualized.
The worlds we shall now discuss are not controlled by any single Order, but are instead managed by Sith from multiple Orders, whose purpose is integral to our shared mission. It is here we prepare for the coming war, where future generations are raised, where our warriors train, and where our leaders plot the downfall of our enemies.
It is on these worlds that we are able to orient ourselves to the only goal that matters – free of the distraction and plotting of our forebears.
You have almost certainly already stepped upon one of these worlds – and contingent upon your success, you will one day walk many more.
ON CLASSIFICATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS
Not all Sith worlds are created equally, or for the same purpose. The Collective classifies the worlds under our dominion differently depending on a number of factors and needs, and it is worth highlighting these classifications before proceeding, as this framework is necessary to understanding where each one falls in the grander plan.
The first major category is the Academy Worlds. This should be self-explanatory, reader. It is upon these worlds that Sith are raised or trained in the ways of our people, and able to hone themselves to the sharpest edge possible. This also encompasses worlds which serve as centers of knowledge, history, or learning, as there are many Sith who seek to expand their knowledge on numerous matters. These are relatively few in number, and each one specialized for a certain demographic.
The second major category is the Citadel Worlds. These encompass the bulk of Sith worlds from a purely numeric standpoint, and have the most diverse set of functions. Each holds a direct role in the coming war effort.
Some are outposts that monitor and defend points of interest, others are fortresses and bastions, some are command centers where battle plans are drawn and contingencies plotted, while some are worlds within the territory of the enemy.
Not all Citadel Worlds are equal in importance, but each of them is carefully chosen, cultivated, and exploited to serve a clear purpose. When new worlds are claimed or established for the Collective, they are almost always Citadel Worlds, for as the war approaches, the stronger we must become.
The final category is the Core Worlds. These are special worlds, each of them unique and serving an important role to all Sith. Some are places of power. Some have Sith history and lore tied to them. Regardless, each is irreplaceable. Unlike Citadel Worlds which can and are expected to be lost in war – the Core Worlds cannot be so easily forsaken.
Some Core Worlds tend toward the latter categories, and there is sporadic debate about their proper classification – but all recognize that they cannot be lost or sacrificed needlessly, and among the worlds of the Sith Collective, they are recognized as the most important and prestigious.
ON NAMES AND CONTROLS
Before we begin our discussion of the worlds themselves, there are several more aspects that are important to understand – the first is that you will find no planets in the star charts with the names the Collective has given them. That which they were or are called before does not matter.
You will not know every world under our control unless you are among the most powerful of the Sith, nor will you be explicitly told their original names. There is a layer of intentional obfuscation and complexity here, and the reason for this is twofold.
The first is for security. We are not blind to the possibility that there are those among our number who will desert, flee, or betray us – especially when they first arrive amongst us. But if they dare to take this step and share what they know with the enemy, they will struggle to share anything of worth about our worlds. They can recall the name they were given, but the Jedi will find no matches.
The second reason is as a contingency. With the exception of the Core Worlds, each planet we possess is not one that is irreplaceable. If an Academy or Citadel World were to be lost, its function could be replicated elsewhere. We are not attached in sentimental ways to these worlds – their purpose will not change, even if their location does.
In this way the integrity of the Collective is preserved – the loss of a single, a dozen, or even the majority of worlds is merely an obstacle, not a crippling blow, for those who plot within the Collective have prepared for every possibility. If there comes a time where we are forced to depart a world, despair not, for its successor has already been determined.
You may be wondering, if we obscure the names of these planets, how are they known amongst us?
There are many Sith in our history who will only receive passing mentions, if not ignored altogether, in the course of these lessons. There are many Sith who made certain contributions to the cause, or were notable in some way – but who do not have an Order of their own. Perhaps they were mere exemplars of our kind, perhaps they are respected, but they lack a following, perhaps their time has simply come and gone.
Nonetheless, those Sith have memories worth preserving and honoring, despite lacking the impact and gravitas invoked by those Sith who have Orders around them. Thus, we honor them by conferring upon our worlds their names. It is likely you will recognize some of these names, and just as likely that they will be unknown to you.
As for why these names were chosen and not others, well, that is a question you may ask the High Council, if you wish. It is simply the case that some Sith will remain obscure, and the worlds in the Collective are limited in number. This may change in the future as the Collective expands, and more Sith can be honored.
The way these worlds are administered is also important, for it places the cooperation of the Sith Collective at its center. At any one time, a world is managed or led by a representative of one Sith Order, who is jointly supported by the other Sith Orders. However, this position is not a permanent one.
Each Sith world has terms of leadership, the length of which depends on the world in question, and when this term has ended, the Sith Collective will choose another. In this way, it ensures that there is no permanent stranglehold of any singular Order. Even if they do not lead, it is common for most Orders to have a presence or responsibilities, even if those are subordinate to the leader at the time.
This administrative method has proven successful, as while some Orders will become regular stewards of worlds, there are often two to three others they rotate this responsibility with.
This preamble has continued long enough. I have provided sufficient context and history – let us discuss the worlds of the Sith Collective.
ON NADD, SITH ACADEMY OF INITIATION
One is likely to be of two minds about the subject of children within the Sith – almost certainly depending on one's own upbringing and initiation into our Collective. There are those who were raised under Sith instruction, and will perhaps have fond, formative memories of this time in their lives.
And there are those who may be surprised that there is any organized instruction for children at all.
It is not a wholly surprising perspective – the contemporary Sith are hardly known for nurturing younglings, and even in our history, Sith education has properly begun when they are young adults. Yet what is a mother or family to do when they have a child of their own? Teach them themselves? Instruct them in everything they need to know?
Some do. One might even argue that this is the proper Sith approach to parentage, but you will find no agreement on this topic, nor particularly strong feelings from the majority – whether they have children of their own or not.
For this reason, there exists Nadd, upon which is the Sith Academy of Instruction. It is named for the Sith Freedon Nadd, who needs little introduction, as many know his exploits. Still, it was under his instruction that some of the most powerful Sith were cultivated – particularly Exar Kun. Thus, the Nadd Academy aspires to produce individuals with similar potential and power.
All children who are born to Sith are welcome to be enrolled in this place of learning. You might imagine that this Academy is one focused on proper Sith instruction, but it is not the case. Understand that while the majority of children are Force-sensitive, there are some who are not, and generally speaking, much of the instruction will be the same.
Proper instruction in the ways of the Force and Sith culture comes later, when children are older and able to comprehend and endure what is necessary to become Sith.
Before this, they must have the necessary tools and knowledge. One will find what is taught on Nadd quite… conventional. Basic academic subjects, from reading to math are in its catalog. In instruction, the Academy may not be too dissimilar to schools in the 'civilized' parts of the galaxy – with some slight exceptions, such as Sith history and basic instruction on the usage of the Force for those who possess the capability.
When one visits Nadd, they cannot help but smile when they see the throngs of children who learn and play within its walls. It is also the only Academy that has established a larger community around it, consisting of parents who intend to remain part of their children's lives. These communities are in nearby neighborhoods, and many children will visit their families regularly.
Now, there are certainly some exceptions to the idea that all children born from the Orders attend the Nadd Academy. There are Sith who will raise their children on their own, as mentioned previously, and there are also Orders who can be better described as civilizations unto themselves, such as Snoke and Nox, who have no need of this institution.
Such choices are perfectly valid – it is ultimately the choice of the parent to decide what is best for their children, yet there are clearly many who see the benefits of Nadd's instruction, and are thankful for it.
Students will graduate from Nadd at around fourteen years of age – from which many of them will then be sent to Talon, where they will be trained to become full Sith.
Few Orders have extensive experience with conventional instruction, let alone with children, yet there are several Orders who have taken regular leadership of the Academy. The Order of Snoke has the most experience owing to their own educational facilities, and they are often selected for terms on Nadd.
However, there are a few other Orders who have developed their own approaches. If Snoke represents the most 'conventional' method of instruction, the Order of Traya is willing to be more experimental in how it organizes itself and teaches subjects – they tend to take a more flexible approach to individual instruction.
The Order of Kaan is another who has vied for leadership on a regular basis, who primarily believe in fostering closer bonds between students, and encouraging a more physical, militant, and recreational curriculum – both to encourage camaraderie, and prepare them for their eventual place in the coming conflict.
It is not to say that other Orders have not vied for leadership, but this trio have become the most entrenched and experienced, and who is selected for each term depends on how satisfied the Orders are with the output of Nadd.
Each Order has a substantial presence at this Academy – it holds the future, after all.
Regardless of leadership, I believe most Sith are in agreement that the formation of such an Academy is a welcome development. Once more, there are children who are being raised as they should be – under the careful instruction and watchful eye of the Sith Lords.
ON TALON, SITH ACADEMY OF TRIALS
I expect that this world will be one many readers are intimately familiar with – Talon, the Sith Academy of Trials. The place where one is truly tested and learns what it means to be Sith. Where the prepared blades of Nadd, or the dulled swords of seekers across the galaxy, become honed and lethal.
Talon is for two specific demographics of Sith – the first is graduates from Nadd, who come to Talon to realize their talent, and become true Sith. The second are those Force-users in the galaxy unaffiliated with the Jedi, in whom Sith recruiters see potential. Sometimes they come from smaller Force-using sects such as the Dathomiri Witches, Gray Paladins, or even the Luka Sene. Sometimes they are self-taught, and sometimes they do not even know the potential inside them.
Yet here they come, and here they learn.
To become Sith is no easy task. No Order will accept the incompetent and weak merely because they endured some arbitrary process. No, the process itself must be demanding, it must be difficult, but it must be useful. The Talon Academy dispenses with the one-size-fits-all methods employed by previous Sith Orders, and instead determines what the student is interested in, and where their aptitudes lie.
Some initiates are warriors, and it is a simple matter to tailor their training towards the martial arts. Some have a talent for sorceries and the arcane, and are subsequently molded into conduits of the Force. Some prefer to delve into the deepest mysteries of the Sith, poring over ancient texts and artifacts to unearth secrets of Sith lore.
No matter one's interests, they will inform their journey in becoming Sith. Do not fear if you do not 'fit' with your conception of what the Sith expect – the title of Sith is yours to define.
Not all Sith were battlefield warriors or sorcerers, and we sabotage ourselves by using such small-minded, narrow definitions. One need not slay a dozen worlds singlehandedly to be considered a full member of our Collective.
The Jedi embrace their scientists, philosophers, historians, and explorers – thus, the Sith must as well, lest we deprive ourselves of these valuable individuals. No, not merely embrace them – we must empower them.
So we do.
It is in this Academy where the Orders have perhaps their strongest presence in the context of the greater Collective. Not simply because each often contributes to the teachings of subjects, but because it is here where the initiate will choose which Order they wish to join – and the Orders will attempt to recruit those who they believe would benefit them.
There are some restrictions on this element of instruction – so as to maintain a certain neutrality – but in reality, there is an understanding that recruitment is a necessary part of the Academy, and these students are adults. They cannot be coddled any longer, and they must make their own decisions. If they are swayed by one Order over another, then that is the fault of the Order that failed to make an appropriate case.
To graduate from Talon is an honor few in the galaxy will enjoy – they, who are recognized as full Sith, and who now take the first step upon their chosen path.
This Academy is named for Darth Talon, one of the most dangerous, and infamous, of the One Sith of Darth Krayt. One of his most feared assassins, and a deadly warrior who slew many Jedi. A weapon honed to its sharpest edge. May those who enter and depart Talon echo her power, strength, and resolve.
The Orders who tend to lead this Academy primarily fall to those who have experience and interest in managing not only larger Orders, but those who represent different factions, and seek to influence them. It is for this reason that leadership tends to fall to three Orders, each of whom have different approaches to the management of the Academy.
The first is the Order of Marka Ragnos, which takes a harder line against the recruitment plots the Orders conduct amongst themselves. Ragnos is strict in maintaining the tutelage within Talon, while also lessening the influence of the Orders on the students, as they see it as a disruptive force. While the Orders do not necessarily endorse the hardline stance of Ragnos, they are tolerant of them taking the term because it is an equalizer where no favoritism exists whatsoever – including from the Order of Marka Ragnos itself.
In contrast to this is the Order of Revan, who takes a far more relaxed approach to the matter of Order recruitment pre-graduation. While Revan does not play favorites, they have allowed it to reach a point of openness that smaller Orders, and those adhering to more honorable conduct, resent. The Order of Revan has stepped in on occasion for the exceptionally egregious instances of organized recruitment – but some are suspicious of their motivations for doing so.
The last Order that has been regularly selected to this term is the Order of Kaan, which takes something of a middle ground between the two. Kaan does not crack down as hard as Ragnos, nor is as permissive as Revan, but instead tries to promote an equality and unity between each Order. If they see one Order becoming too active, they will actively work to promote other Orders to equalize the possibilities.
Kaan is seen from this perspective as a double-edged sword, where one must be careful, lest your pushing ends up backfiring – and more than a few are acutely aware that Kaan drives these interventions, and their intentions may be less than altruistic. However, it is often agreed that the motivations of Kaan ultimately balance out, and who is selected to this term is often a choice made based on strategy, experience, and at the end of the day, luck.
For all Sith Orders, it is here where their future members and leaders are recruited. It should be no surprise that such activities take place, for it is perhaps the difference between success and failure – or life and death.
ON SADOW, SITH ACADEMY OF ILLUMINATION
This is a world that I suspect many may not know exists, or have heard only rumors about – and one a few of you readers may be currently residing within.
Sadow, Sith Academy of Illumination.
It is a fine title; perhaps a grand one, though one that intentionally obscures its purpose as a place where those who come from the Jedi are sent to learn the ways of the Sith. It is a simple matter to leave the Jedi Order – it is more common than you might expect. Yet it is again, simple. Easy, even.
It is a more difficult matter to become Sith. There are those who are of the belief that the Sith are eager and willing to embrace any Jedi who demonstrates the slightest interest in our people. Trite and outdated propaganda
Come now, reader. The issues with such an approach should be obvious.
Jedi can be shrewd and dangerous. Some possess the mindset, ability, and will to commit heinous acts, and allow corruption into themselves, in pursuit of a higher ideal or goal – especially the modern Jedi Order. We see this kind of commitment even in non-Jedi sects, such as the Quabular. Proving one's intentions by forcing them to commit atrocity is no longer an acceptable criterion.
Nor is it a genuine one.
Sadow is for the Jedi to learn what it means to be Sith. It is to undo their years of indoctrination; to break the chains imposed upon their mind and heart. From this crucible emerges a true Sith whose past is not a millstone, but a source of strength.
You might describe Sadow as a gilded cage. A quarantine world. A reeducation camp. It is styled as an Academy, but the training that takes place is rarely of the body or Force – most Jedi possess the ability to wield their power proficiently. Instead, it is their minds that must unlearn, and learn again.
It is not a simple or easy process. To change one's worldview and core values does not come without struggle. So deep is the poison of the Jedi, that it may require months or years of work and teaching before they are illuminated succinctly.
There are stricter standards within Sadow concerning instruction. For the Sith instructors must be understanding, but firm. They must be welcoming, but vigilant. They must be instructive, but not overbearing. Often only the best teachers are allowed on Sadow, for they are not instructing mere younglings, but facilitating the conversion of Jedi into something greater.
Have you wondered why there is so little stigma among those who were formerly Jedi within our Collective? Why so few seem concerned about the possibility of subversion and infiltration despite the fact that many former Jedi not only hold positions of importance, but lead entire Sith Orders?
This is why. Sadow weeds out the sincere from the fraudulent; from those who can embrace our teachings, and those whose minds are forever closed. Anyone who emerges from Sadow is as true a Sith as those who come from Talon.
Do not forget this. Never insinuate or question their allegiance. You will be… reprimanded. If they receive accolades which you think you deserve instead, then earn them. If a former Jedi is a better Sith than you – perhaps examine why that is.
I digress.
What is done with those who have not the mettle or intention of becoming Sith?
They never leave Sadow.
I trust I need not elaborate on this.
This Academy is named for Naga Sadow, whose power and exploits I need not recount. However, this Academy was not named for him for those feats, but rather what he did after his death – the conversion of Freedon Nadd to the Sith, another man who would become one of the greatest of our numbers.
Perhaps there will be an individual of similar power who will emerge from Sadow, and leave their own mark on history.
Concerning those who manage the Sadow Academy, the seriousness and importance of its mission demands those who not only have an ability to train, but also to understand Jedi, convert them, and observe them. Three Orders have emerged to execute this mission, each one with their respective strengths, though each working closely together regardless of which one formally leads the term.
When it comes to Sadow, leadership is less concerned with competition and ideology, and more a preordained arrangement. Petty power plays and ambitions are left behind here, for understandable reasons, and these three Orders fill a purpose that the others cannot.
The Order of Emperor Jadus is vigilance. They maintain a strong presence on Sadow for the purposes of observing, interrogating, and judging the Jedi who cross its thresholds.
The Order of Emperor Palpatine is conversion, as there are few who know how best to sway minds, make arguments, and corrupt traditions more than they.
Then there is the Order of Lord Kaan, who is understanding. The Order of Kaan is the most similar to the Jedi, and many of their members are former Jedi. They understand the Jedi on a deeper level than most, and often know how best to truly make them embrace the ways of the Sith, and shatter the invisible shackles holding them back.
Sadow is a strict Academy, on a harsh world, that will challenge those who enter it in ways they have never imagined – yet it is necessary, for those who emerge are Sith in the purest sense of the word.
ON MALGUS, SITH ACADEMY OF WAR
The last of the Academy Worlds is one possessing a different function and mission. Unlike the others, attendance is not mandatory. It is a purely optional endeavor for Sith across the Collective, as following their graduation from Talon or Sadow, their basic, mandatory education is met.
Yet if you want to demonstrate your commitment to the Sith, or expect to rise to the position of power and authority, you will spend at least some time on Malgus, upon which resides the Sith Academy of War.
Sith innately understand many aspects of conflict. It is in our nature, and something each is experienced in on some level – yet the intimate combat found on a battlefield does not translate into proficiency concerning the higher aspects of war. This refers to grand strategy, matters of logistics, and the dirty, messy aspects of war that many prefer to not think about – when's the last time you saw a major holovid starring a quartermaster?
Yet understanding these is critical if we wish to wage a successful campaign against our enemy.
I can assure you that the Jedi, the Alliance, and the Imperium prepare and master all theaters of warfare, from the glory found on the battlefields, to the logistical minutiae of grand strategy that ensures their soldiers and warriors are fed, supplied, and armed with knowledge and intelligence.
Furthermore, any Sith can refine their tactics on the battlefield itself, but to hone one's skills in higher aspects of war requires more dedication. When intellect and might are combined, it makes for a formidable combination.
This is what Malgus offers the Sith Collective.
Darth Malgus, the Academy's namesake, was one of the greatest warriors of the Sith. A man whose prowess on the battlefield was legendary, and matched by his keen strategic mind that led the Sith Empire to numerous tactical victories. Many Sith tend to master one form of war over another, but Malgus applied himself to both, and was rewarded with glory, influence, and power.
Power that rivaled Emperor Jadus himself at the time, before his ignoble downfall – but that is a story for another time. Merely understand that Malgus understood what it meant to be Sith, how to wage galactic war – and holds a legacy all Sith would do well to heed.
So, what will you find on Malgus? What is taught? What is learned?
Every aspect of warfare you can conceptualize. From the high-level elements of a successful grand strategy, to how to ensure that you can maintain a logistical system on an invaded world, to maintaining an occupation in the face of partisan opposition. Students are pitted against each other in war games, and against instructors, where their decisions and choices will lead to their triumph or downfall.
Those who instruct within Malgus are merciless and relentless. This is no Academy for the arrogant and the immature. You are Sith now, and are expected to display a certain competency and intelligence. You are expected to learn from your betters, and improve yourself when shown how to do so.
To graduate from this Academy is not merely a demonstration of intelligence, commitment, resolve, and authority – it is an accomplishment that will open doors into the highest ranks of the Sith, no matter what Order you are a part of. You demonstrate your ability to operate on a higher level than your peers – and will receive your just rewards.
It will not be easy. If you believe this to be some simple supplementary education, you are gravely mistaken. War is a matter of life and death, victory and defeat, and this ethos is reflected in the seriousness of its training. Your mistakes could result in our doom, or be our salvation – let the incompetent weed themselves out early. It is for this reason that you must consider carefully before you decide to enter this Academy.
I will recommend that you gain some experience as a Sith before pursuing an education at this level, but I also recommend that you make this attempt later in your life. You may not have the mind of a strategist, but you should understand what to do if you somehow find yourself in command of soldiers or Sith – ensure your decisions do not waste these resources.
As for the Orders who lead this Academy? Those whose respective Sith already have some talent and experience in this field. The Orders of Snoke and Revan often vie for the honor of leading this institution, as no other Orders have as much practical experience as these – though they will occasionally be usurped by the Order of Darth Krayt, whose members exhibit their own mastery in this theater.
Yet no matter who leads, the purpose and strictness of the Academy does not change. Do you have what it takes to graduate from this esteemed Academy? I suspect you do, reader.
You are Sith.
Anything can be achieved – if you have the power and resolve to realize it.
ON RUIN, THE FORTRESS WORLDS
Here we begin our exploration of the Citadel Worlds, which have significantly different missions and organization compared to the individual worlds that comprise the Academies and Core Worlds.
Ruin is not a single world. It does not even refer to a specific sector of our territory. It is a declaration of its mission. Just as Darth Ruin brought war to the Jedi Order, initiating yet another schism in the Jedi and the galaxy, so too will the Sith Collective bring the standing galactic order to its knees.
These are also known as the Fortress Worlds, as each one is intended to have a strategic, tangible purpose in the coming conflict. Each one resides on the edges of explored space, some of them only a few systems away from Alliance and Imperial worlds, though a few are within the lawless Outer Rim itself.
They act as staging points for our armies and fleets, chokepoints to gain strategic advantages, and defense outposts for when the inevitable retaliation comes. Each one is self-sufficient and able to defend against entire armies – as such will be expected in the conflict. For each Ruin claimed, there will be a bloody price extracted.
How expansive is this wall of Fortress Worlds you may wonder? How many lurk outside the powers that be?
I do not know. No one but the High Council and a few ranking members of the Orders know the true number of Ruin. This grand picture is something that I am not privileged to know, nor are the majority of Sith. The reason for this is simple – when the war commences, there will be Sith who inevitably end up in the hands of the Jedi and Imperium.
They will be interrogated. Their secrets will be spilled. It is simply the nature of war. In this instance, it is preferable that ignorance prevail rather than the Jedi learning their locations and focusing their efforts.
Of course, this raises a question – if the true scale is unknown, how are the Fortress Worlds managed and populated? How are they identified if not by name? The answer is that they are not – not to us, at least. Their only differentiation is their individual coordinates. Each of these worlds is called Ruin – without any additional designators.
Sith will only ever be assigned to one Ruin. They will not rotate to different ones, nor call their assignment anything but Ruin. It is for the good of the Collective that we guard this secret. Perhaps if you rise high enough, you will be granted the privilege of knowing the grand design the High Council orchestrates.
As for those who command these worlds, each Ruin has its own leader chosen from the Orders residing on it. Given the purpose of these worlds, they naturally draw the interest of more militant and martial-focused Orders who long for open war and see little place for subterfuge.
As a result, the Orders who tend to be selected to lead each Ruin come from the Orders of Darth Revan, Darth Krayt, Lord Kaan, and Emperor Vitiate. It is not to say that other Orders have not had individuals selected for command, but they are a strict minority, even if one can typically find a relatively diverse mixture of Orders on any given Ruin.
These are our first line of defense when the war begins – and I expect that when it commences, these Fortress Worlds will grow in number, and function as a noose slowly closing around the throat of the galaxy.
ON ZANNAH, THE SHADOW WORLDS
Above I have outlined the worlds which are on the edges of settled galactic civilization – now let us discuss their counterpart.
If Ruin are the turbolasers aimed towards the heart of the galaxy, then Zannah are the knife held above its back. The Shadow Worlds – despite technically being Citadel Worlds – serve a much different function for the coming war.
They reside within what is understood to be galactic civilization – primarily within the Alliance, though there are a few fringe minor worlds within Imperial Space. On the surface, little appears amiss, and their purpose is to attract little attention – yet in the shadows we thrive, and dominate.
Zannah serve many different functions. They are operational hubs in the heart of enemy territory, intelligence outposts where information is gathered, reviewed, and employed, safe houses for our agents and allies in the galaxy, and of course, a primary vector of our hidden influence throughout galactic civilization.
Many of these worlds are fringe; isolated backwaters who are so divorced from the centers of power that they barely exist but for a cell on a spreadsheet. Those who live on them lead simple lives, with limited ambitions, and tend to not hold strong views on the galaxy beyond their own planets.
Perfect for our needs.
The name for these worlds may give you pause, reader, given the standing position of the Collective on Darth Bane and the Rule of Two, whom Darth Zannah was closely connected to. While the Rule of Two is a flawed and incompatible ideology with the Sith Collective, one cannot deny that it served its purpose well. It allowed the Sith to survive for a thousand years, and while Bane founded this philosophy, it was his Apprentice, Darth Zannah, who proved its merit.
She was an exemplar of the Sith of this era, remaining in the shadows, cultivating her strength and knowledge, and manipulating and influencing those around her. Masks and identities were laid upon each other, misdirection and disinformation were tools she mastered, all while preparing for a future where the Sith would rule once more. If this part of our history should be honored, it is best that it bear the name Zannah.
Like Ruin, Zannah are similarly controlled on a per-planet basis, and organized in the same way, though I have learned that even fewer individuals beyond the High Council know the extent of Zannah, or how deep they reach into the galaxy.
If there are political movements or governments on any Zannah, they are under our influence. If there are corporate or independent efforts, they also answer to us. There is nothing on Zannah that we are not aware of or controlling. And when the time is right, these knives will be plunged into the backs of our enemies.
Just as Ruin were led by Orders whose inclinations led to them being natural fits, so too are Zannah led by those who prioritize guile, manipulation and corruption over overt militarism. The Orders of Jadus, Palpatine, Plagueis, and Nihilus thus are often the leaders of Zannah, each working and biding their time until the knives fall.
ON RIVAN, THE LIBRARY OF THE SITH
This world is near to my heart, reader. One must forgive this indulgence, for we all have our weaknesses.
The world of Rivan is unique among those of the Sith Collective, not merely for its purpose, but in that I believe it best demonstrates the triumph of the Sith Collective in a way that previous alliances of our people have not.
This world has no strategic or wartime purpose, but is instead a library – though that seems too quaint and limited a term.
It is not simply a repository of knowledge and texts, it is a vault, it is a mausoleum, it is a laboratory, it is the place where those who come seeking knowledge, wisdom, and insight congregate to study and learn. In this respect, it serves a practical purpose, for there is no greater collection of Sith teachings, artifacts, and lore than the Library of the Sith.
Imagine a piece of knowledge, reader; a relic of our history that would have almost certainly been lost. Artifacts whose age stretches to the time of the Great Hyperspace War, and holocrons of Sith Masters lost to time. All of that and more is in this library, and open to any who seek the secrets of the past.
I do not think that there has been a greater collection in our history, nor a library so grand in scale. For people come not just to read and study, but actively experiment and develop new techniques in the Force, as there are few places more suited than when references are so easily available.
You may wonder how this library became so expansive, for do the Orders not jealously hoard their artifacts?
It depends.
There are indeed some of the most sacred, important, and precious relics and knowledge that the Orders hold under their direct control – but these are far fewer than you might think, and many of them are relics tied directly to the Sith in question. A lightsaber hilt, a piece of armor, sometimes a holocron.
However, the incentives within the Sith have changed – Orders do not often embrace such selfish tendencies, as is it not a core part of the Collective that each Order spread the message, teachings, and power of their chosen progenitor? It is this logic that triumphs over small-minded selfishness.
Usually, the Orders willingly donate much of what they possess to the Library both to share the knowledge, history, and lore they have amassed with the wider Sith Collective, and for reasons of security. Those who attend to the Library take their sacred role seriously, woe to any thieves or vandals who attempt to enter this place.
Those who would dare follow in the footsteps of Darth Gravid have paid dearly for their foolishness.
There is an additional incentive that Lady Vathila imposed in her wisdom – that the Orders who donate their knowledge and relics would retain primary ownership over them. In the event they wish to reclaim their relics, they would be able to do so immediately and without penalty. In this way, the Orders retain ownership and control – and the Sith reap the benefits of this knowledge.
I encourage each and every Sith to spend time within this wondrous and sacred institution. Learn, expand your knowledge, meditate among the history of the Sith, and take inspiration from the past to command the future.
The namesake of this Library, Darth Rivan, did this. He is from an era of Sith that was in transition from the ways of the Sith we are familiar with, to the reformations made by Lord Kaan. A man of power, a student of history, Darth Rivan was a man who wished to break the cycles and infighting that had plagued the Sith, leading to their continued defeat.
His solution was flawed, and he ultimately failed to implement it correctly – but nonetheless, he saw the problem, and attempted to correct it in a substantive way – this is worthy of praise and remembrance.
The Orders who lead the Library do so on rotation. One will usually find individuals from the Orders of Marka Ragnos, Darth Traya, and Darth Nihilus presiding as custodians over the Library of the Sith.
This library will only continue to grow with time. Perhaps, dear reader, one day you will contribute to it.
ON MARR, THE BLACK CASTLE OF THE SITH COLLECTIVE
Imagine a fortress, reader.
Nay, this presents the wrong impression.
Imagine a castle. One whose spires rise into the sky, whose gates tower far above yourself, and whose scale and grandeur is enough to make even the mightiest Sith feel small and insignificant.
Do you have the picture in your mind?
Let me add some more details.
Picture thick walls around this castle, bristling with armaments. Imagine rows upon rows of silos, above and below the ground, within which reside arsenals extensive enough to annihilate entire continents. Imagine the largest machines you can conceive of, projecting shields able to blanket entire cities. Imagine hangars large enough to fit entire cruisers. Imagine a mountain, which has been whittled away and shaped to be the heart of this castle.
Is the picture clearer?
Good.
However, this picture is but a haze; an imperfect vision, for nothing can truly prepare one to behold the grandeur, power, and might of the Black Castle. Whatever conceptions you have of this world, they are too small in scope. The Black Castle is not merely a single location, it is the center of a planetary redoubt whose veins stretch across the world of Marr.
Every single weapon one can imagine rests within its arsenal; every conventional and unconventional tool and technology. These walls stretch around ringed emplacements the size of cities, bristling with ground-to-space batteries, each connected through underground grav-rails to the Black Castle itself.
Marr was built to be able to not only fight entire armies, but pulverize them into scrap and dust. The fleets of the enemy will come to Marr to die, and when they fall to the planet, their remains will be taken inside the foundries of the Black Castle to be melted down and recycled to serve the world in its defense. Marr is not like Ruin – we can afford to lose those worlds.
This one, we cannot.
Why has the Collective devoted so much time, resources, and weapons into this single location? Because it is our last line of defense, should the worst come to pass. Marr is positioned at a singular, critical chokepoint, beyond which is what serves as our capital world – to be discussed later. All you need know is that if Marr is ever roused to its full power, the Sith Collective is in mortal danger.
Yet even if we are in danger, we ensure that the price will be borne with the blood of millions. We will demand that the Jedi throw themselves at our walls, and suffer for every miniscule millimeter they claim. For this world is death, and it is here that we make our stand.
It is fitting it is named for Darth Marr, one of the greatest Sith of the Old Republic Era, one often unacknowledged in history, and overshadowed by his peers. Nox. Jadus. Vauner. Revan. In comparison, Marr was simply a warrior; a veteran whose trophies included hundreds of Jedi, whose focus was not on power, but exemplifying the strength of the Sith.
He was the last Sith on Korriban who stood and died as Emperor Valkorian personally claimed it for the Eternal Empire. Marr died on the homeworld of the Sith, in a way that deserves to be properly honored. In Marr's name, the Sith will invoke his last stand, and if we are to fall, we will ensure the price is so high historians will speak of the oceans of shed blood, and the deafening lamentations of the widowed.
The Black Castle is filled with Sith from the more militant Orders, and is also supported with soldiers and personnel from the Order of Snoke, whose investment in the Black Castle exceeds some of their own worlds. The scale is often such that only the Order of Snoke is capable of managing the Black Castle, and one of their number usually commands it.
Usually, but not always.
The Sith of the Order of Revan and the Order of Vitiate have at times commanded the Black Castle – though Snoke is often a significant asset to their management, and indeed, have actively ceded leadership at times for the purpose of allowing other Orders to gain the experience in commanding at such scale.
It is for this reason that the terms of Marr's leadership are shorter than typical – as Marr is a world only intended to be fought upon as a last resort. The tenure of leadership lasts only a few years, allowing plenty of time for leaders to come, gain experience, and be rotated back into their Orders.
Should Marr find itself in conflict, I suspect these tenures will be extended in length, but truthfully, if the enemy has come to Marr, then we will have more pressing matters to attend to.
ON PALL, HIGH TEMPLE OF THE SITH LORDS
When you think of worlds that are distinctly Sith, which come to mind? The orange sands, harsh winds, and forlorn temples of Korriban? The barren, frozen expanse of Ziost? The screaming, ruin of the Malachor asteroid field? The endless, hungry forests, and swirling rainstorms of Dromund Kaas?
Worlds steeped in history, but more than that, worlds which possess an innate character, innate power that draws us to them, and challenges us to bring them to heel. Worlds that are alive in a way only Sith can understand and appreciate.
Pall is one of those worlds, though one that you are almost certainly ignorant of. The reason for that is simple – it is a world kept secret, cultivated and warped over the course of centuries into what it is today.
It is the work of none other than Lady Vathila herself, who spend countless decades upon it as she plotted and bided her time, seeking to create not merely a Sith world, but the greatest of all of them, a place where one day, Sith of all paths and kinds would walk its lands, and marvel at its grandeur, and tremble at its power.
Once this was a planet with a simple Force nexus, one that was untapped and undeveloped – as most are. A Force nexus, it is known, reacts to the world around it, and many lie dormant before they are awakened by a Force-user – and depending on what happens next, it will change.
The Jedi are apt to treat these phenomena as simple forces of nature, to be discovered and left alone. Some give them a spiritual significance, and will visit them to commune with spirits, or receive visions. Radicals may even tap into this power for minor conveniences, or they will build their temples atop them, allowing the nexus to naturally grow and expand as it reacts to more Jedi arriving to it.
The Jedi tame their nexuses at best, and ignore them at worst.
The Sith do not follow these restrained, cowardly acts. Under Lady Vathila, the Pall Nexus was not merely cultivated, but fed. It was fed in a myriad of ways. Fed through the sacrifice of lesser minds and souls. Fed through the thoughts and dreams of those who were made to settle the world. Fed through Lady Vathila's own blood and power.
Through cultivation, sorcery, and other incantations of the dark side of the Force, Pall has become a far more dangerous world than otherwise conceived. A world that is as much a hunter as the Sith who reside on it; whose flora and fauna are as lethally ravenous as the Nexus itself.
As the Nexus fed, it became stronger and developed an insatiable appetite, one that became a self-sustaining presence upon Pall. The first thing you will feel, if you are so lucky as to step upon this world, is an alien thing unlike any that exists in the galaxy, which is on the edge of your perception, lurking; prowling, waiting for your moment of weakness so it can consume all that you are.
Did you think that this world, intended to be the greatest of the Sith worlds, would be safe?
Did you think that you would be afforded such patronizing apathy?
You should know better.
It is for this reason that those who are not Sith are forbidden from stepping foot on this planet. The Nexus does not discriminate, nor is it restrained in its gluttony.
Sometimes it consumes the minds of its victims outright, other times it infests their psyche, forcing them to heed unknowable commands that lure them into the depths of Pall, to the all-consuming center of the Nexus itself.
One cannot let their guard down for even a moment. Sith have succumbed, and paid for their recklessness with their minds and lives. Take careful heed should you come to this hallowed world – for it suffers not the weak.
But what is upon this world? What purpose does it serve?
The Sith Collective is not a formal state. It does not have 'homeworlds' or 'capitals' akin to the Alliance and Empire – yet if there is a seat of power and authority within the Collective, it is on Pall. It is here where the High Council resides in a grand temple, a glorious mansion to the triumphs and exploits of our people.
The High Temple of the Sith Lords was built not by the hands of slaves or the Force-blind, but by the Sith themselves. It was the Sith – including Lady Vathila herself – who built the temples, who birthed the gardens, who erected the statues, who carved the monuments. It is a world built and shaped by and for the Sith.
One that recalls our greatest triumphs, and heralds our coming exploits.
It is named for Ajunta Pall, he who first took the title Dark Lord of the Sith. The first to renounce the Jedi, the first to challenge their dogma, and the first declare his intention to follow a different path. The first to embrace the power of the dark side, and lay the foundations for a legacy that the galaxy fears to this day.
The first of the Sith Lords.
All of the worlds discussed up to now have had terms of leadership. Pall is the singular exception, because without pause or question, only one Order has held stewardship over Pall, and that is the Order of Lady Vathila. It is only proper, and all Sith acknowledge as much, that the seat of power and authority of the Collective should fall under the one whose vision and power brought it into being.
And so, Lady Vathila and her Order maintain stewardship over this sacred world, and ensure that the endless hunger of the Nexus is sated.
A part of me is almost disappointed that this world will remain unknown and hidden from the galaxy, protected as it is by worlds like Marr and Ruin. Should any Jedi dare step foot on it, I dare imagine they will quickly find more than they bargained for.