Korriban, Dromund Kaas, Sith and The Empire Old Republic Lore Entries

The lore of the Old Republic is incredibly rich, and many pieces of this lore are captured through codex entries that can be discovered as you play the story of Star War: The Old Republic, meet new groups and organizations, and find hidden lore objects. Below is a compilation of many of the lore codex entries from the planet of Korriban (known as Morriban in newer lore) and Dromund Kaas about the Sith, as well as the entries about Coruscant and the Republic in the Old Republic era.

Korriban

Korriban

Location: Korriban (Planet)

A cruel planet of rocky red deserts and crumbling ruins, Korriban was the homeworld of the ancient Sith. Reclaimed by the Empire in recent decades, it is now the site of the Sith Academy, where the Dark Council oversees the training of new acolytes. Only Sith may come and go freely from the academy, and for a non-Sith to visit Korriban is a great privilege.

Surrounding the academy are the tombs of the first Dark Lords. Used as testing grounds by the academy overseers, the tombs remain filled with traps, monstrosities and relics, even millennia after their construction–along with the bodies of a generation of failed acolytes.

The Sith Empire

Location: (Organization)

The Sith Empire is a force of dominance, an authoritarian state forged from militarism, slavery and the dark side of the Force. United under a single Emperor and his Dark Council, ruled by the Force-sensitive members of the Sith Order and supported by countless loyal citizens, the Empire forsakes the freedoms offered by the Republic in favor of strength and order. Aiming to take revenge on the Republic for its exile centuries ago, the Sith Empire will stop at nothing to become the greatest power in the galaxy.

Although an uneasy truce has settled over the galaxy, the Empire does not sit idle. From its capital of Dromund Kaas, Imperial leadership exerts total control over the worlds it has conquered, rebuilding its forces to once again march on the Republic.

The Dark Council

Location: (Organization)

While the undying Emperor serves as the unquestioned leader of the Empire, the twelve members of the Dark Council oversee the daily workings of their vast civilization and speak in the Emperor’s name. Each is among the most powerful Sith in the galaxy; to hold a seat on the council is the highest honor and the greatest position of influence a Sith can attain.

The individual members of the Dark Council control their own spheres of influence and pyramids of subordinate Sith–overall Imperial military strategy falls in the hands of one Dark Council member, while study of ancient artifacts falls into the hands of another. These spheres occasionally overlap, leading to conflict. However, every Sith Lord and apprentice is ultimately answerable to the council member at the top of his or her pyramid. Similarly, non-Sith organizations are usually clearly answerable to one Dark Council member or another.

Meetings of the Dark Council are normally held in the Citadel on Dromund Kaas or in the Sith Academy on Korriban. It’s rare for all members to gather at once–power plays among members are frequent, and several of the Dark Lords are virtual hermits. On the occasions when the Emperor summons them, however, all members of the Dark Council are expected to gather and obey.

The Role of a Dark Council Member

Location: (Sith Inquisitor Lore)

The Emperor’s word is supreme, but the Emperor rarely speaks. As such, it is the Dark Council that rules and administers the affairs of the Empire while the Emperor is silent, determining the fate of worlds and trillions of sentient beings. Each Dark Council member takes charge of one of the twelve pyramids of power within the Sith Empire, and may act as he or she sees fit.

In practice, joining the Dark Council is just the beginning of a Sith’s true rise to prominence. Within the Dark Council are alliances between members designed to keep other members weak or ensure a majority in issues that must be decided by the council as a whole. While in theory there is no head of the council, in practice, every member is struggling to amass enough personal power to control the others. Those who have been on the council for years or decades have deep roots.

While the Dark Council rarely meets in full, a canny Dark Council member makes it a point to be aware of every meeting, and to always have an ally in the chamber.

Sith Academy

Location: Korriban

Rising above the Valley of the Dark Lords, the Sith Academy is a monument to the power of the dark side and the might of the Sith Empire. Would-be students throughout Imperial space compete for the privilege of studying within the Academy halls, but only those strong in the Force are selected–and most of those perish in the struggle to become Sith.

Beyond the training rooms lay many secrets that remain hidden to all but the most powerful Sith Lords. Higher levels contain chambers for members of the Dark Council, where few living creatures are permitted. Whispered rumors suggest that the Emperor himself has a sanctum within the Academy, but no one has seen the Emperor on Korriban for many years.

Admission to the Sith Academy

Location: Korriban (Lore)

It has always been a privilege to face the trials at the Sith Academy. Even though most acolytes fail–and the cost of failure is typically death–the chance to train in the dark arts and become one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy is incentive enough for most. Others, attuned to the Force but reluctant to participate, are dragged and forced to face the trials.

Until recently, only purebloods and humans from the Empire were allowed entrance. To produce a Sith child is one of the Empire’s highest honors, and families identify and groom potential candidates from an early age. Since the loss of so many Sith in the war, however, a swell of less traditional thinking has opened the Academy to anyone displaying Force sensitivity.

Some conservative Sith call this a foolish and desperate move that will dilute the order instead of returning it to strength; others accept it as a temporary measure. At first, the conflict was merely intellectual as the first waves of new recruits into the Academy died ingloriously–but things are changing, and the new breed of Sith may yet prove itself worthy.

Sith Titles

Location: Korriban (Lore)

The Sith Order bestows a number of titles upon its followers, as befits their rank and power. These are the most common:

Acolyte: A Sith acolyte has not yet completed his or her trials in the Sith Academy, and may well die before becoming truly “Sith.”

Sith: An acolyte who completes the trials and is accepted as the apprentice of a Sith Lord is considered Sith–no more, no less. Any non-Sith, however, is expected to refer to a Sith as “my lord” out of respect.

Overseer: An instructor at the Sith Academy is called an overseer. Overseers are often Sith Lords, but that rank is not a requirement; they may simply be Sith with a talent for instruction.

Sith Lord: A Sith who advances in the order’s hierarchy will eventually be elevated to Sith Lord. His or her name is preceded by “Lord” in formal address. In the modern Empire, “Dark Lord” is synonymous with this term.

Darth: The strongest Sith Lords ascend to the position of Darth. Many take a new name at this point, symbolically embracing their transformation into something greater.

Emperor: There has been only one Sith Emperor since the Great Hyperspace War over 1,300 years ago. He is supreme.

Sith Weapons

Location: Korriban (Lore)

The most visible symbol of the Sith is their iconic weapon: the lightsaber. Lightsabers are powered through a combination of rare crystals, precise engineering and the Force itself. They come in both single- and double-bladed forms, and the Sith are believed to be the first to wield the double-blade. While a lightsaber hilt is often customized by its owner, the blade’s color is determined by its crystal; red, purple and orange are the most common colors among the Sith, though other colors, such as magenta and cyan, are known to exist.

Acolytes seeking to wield these weapons are required to begin their trials using an electroblade training sword, an unwieldy device designed to cause painful shocks to the target. If an acolyte is found worthy, he may hone his abilities with an ancient Sith warblade–a weapon used in an era before lightsabers, crafted by pureblooded artisans. In the end, only the strongest and deadliest acolytes may earn a lightsaber for themselves, seizing one from a failed Sith or Jedi or uncovering it in the depths of a tomb.

Slavery in the Empire

Location: Korriban (Lore)

In contrast with the Republic, which officially condemns the practice, slavery is widely accepted across the Empire. However, instead of slaves being bought and sold merely on an individual basis, the custom has been fully incorporated into the hierarchy of Imperial society. As the lowest caste, slaves perform menial duties and backbreaking labor, and they possess virtually no rights or recourse under the law.

The ranks of slaves are typically made up of those who fall outside the traditional Imperial power structure: prisoners of war, criminals and aliens from conquered worlds. Children of slaves are born into the same caste as their parents, though it is possible for individuals to be elevated should they show strength and ability that would better serve the Empire in a more distinguished role.

Recently–seeking to replenish the ranks of the Sith Order after the war–even the Sith Academy has started accepting slaves who show a strong affinity for the Force… though many still look on these former slaves with disdain.

Valley of the Dark Lords

Location: Korriban

Since the dawn of the Empire, the Valley of the Dark Lords has been the final resting place for the galaxy’s most legendary Sith. Carved into the rock walls and anointed with the blood of a thousand slaves, the valley’s tombs are monuments to the influence and strength of their interred lords. A tomb’s construction can require decades, construction beginning long before death claims its eventual occupant and ending long after.

With the defeat of the Sith Empire in the Great Hyperspace War, Korriban was abandoned with only ancient statues to guard over the valley. Grave robbers and cave-ins wore down the tombs for a thousand years until the Sith returned and restored Korriban to its former glory. Excavations into the rediscovered tombs are now underway, and already Sith wonder who will be the next great warrior to lie among the legends in the Valley of the Dark Lords.

The Wilds

Location: Korriban

Nowhere on Korriban is the planet’s dark influence stronger than in the lower wilds. What begins as ringing ears and a cold unease can eventually cripple and dominate an unprepared Sith; weaker minds can be twisted and broken in a matter of hours, leaving soldiers weeping in the sand or slaves frothing, ready to kill.

The source of this corrupting power is unknown. Some believe it is the residual dark energy of the ancient Sith species, while others insist the canyon serves as a focal point for the combined hatred and strength of the entombed Dark Lords. Some even hope the madness is caused by an artifact buried beneath the sands, waiting for a Sith to claim its power

Tomb of Ajunta Pall

Location: Korriban

Before the Empire, before the Sith Order, Ajunta Pall was the very first Dark Lord. Once a Jedi Master, Ajunta Pall learned how to create and shape life itself through the Force–an art the Jedi feared and sought to end. In an act of defiance, he turned his newfound power against the Jedi Order and rebelled.

In the end, the Jedi banished Ajunta Pall and his followers, exiling them to the Outer Rim–where the exiles found Korriban and a Force-wielding native species called the Sith. Ajunta Pall impressed the Sith with his power and technology, and the Sith soon revered the exiles as gods. From his seat of power on Korriban, Ajunta Pall was named Dark Lord of the Sith and founded the Sith Empire.

Upon his death, Ajunta Pall’s body was entombed in the Valley of the Dark Lords. After millennia of sandstorms, cave-ins and warfare, the tomb still stands as a testament to his lasting influence.

Tomb of Marka Ragnos

Location: Korriban

Strength, power and strategy marked the rule of Marka Ragnos. Descended from the original Sith inhabitants of Korriban and the Dark Jedi exiles who interbred with them, Marka Ragnos was destined for greatness. He conquered his competitors in a series of quick, ruthless campaigns and became Dark Lord of all Sith, a title he would hold for more than a century.

The reign of Marka Ragnos might have been short-lived had he not displayed great strategic discipline. Instead of clashing directly with Sith challengers who hungered for his power, he pitted his enemies against each other to weaken and destroy them. Similarly, he was one of few Sith of his era who knew of the existence of the Republic and the Jedi Order. He chose not to attack, and instead focused on strengthening the Sith Empire.

The golden age of the Sith would end shortly after his death, but the legacy and spirit of Marka Ragnos would live on within his tomb in the Valley of the Dark Lords.

Tomb of Naga Sadow

Location: Korriban

Naga Sadow was ruled by ambition: ambition for power, for dominance and for the expansion of the Sith Empire. Marka Ragnos’s body was still warm when Naga Sadow clashed with Sith Lord Ludo Kressh over their late ruler’s title. The spirit of Marka Ragnos interrupted their duel and told the two Sith Lords of a greater enemy: the Republic and its Jedi defenders. Naga Sadow saw opportunity in this revelation and launched an attack on Republic space, a move that would see Sadow named the Empire’s ruler and spark the Great Hyperspace War.

Naga Sadow’s ambition and overconfidence soon became his greatest weaknesses. Even with his mastery of Force illusions, the Republic outmatched the Sith. Sadow’s invasion failed, and the Republic fleet pursued him back to Sith space. He fled Korriban with his warriors as the Sith Empire crumbled around him.

Sadow sought refuge on the remote moon Yavin Four, where he died after spending years trying to rebuild the Empire he had inadvertently helped to destroy. Naga Sadow’s spirit, however, survived to pass on Sith teachings, planting the seed of corruption among his Jedi enemies.

Tomb of Tulak Hord

Location: Korriban

Lord of Hate, Master of the Gathering Darkness and Dark Lord of the Sith. These are but a few of the titles worn by the great Tulak Hord. His command of the dark side and mastery of lightsaber techniques won Hord many battles, and each victory earned him enemies abroad and within the Sith ranks. Of the many who challenged his might, none were successful.

Among Hord’s greatest triumphs were the battles of Yn and Chabosh. With an army of dark side warriors and his faithful Dashade assassin at his side, he annihilated the rebels who defied the expansion of the Sith Empire and went on to conquer the Dromund system–setting the stage for Dromund Kaas to eventually become capital of the Empire. Imperial historians believe the worlds conquered by Hord number in the hundreds, but any records from his bygone era were lost in the Great Hyperspace War.

Legacy of Tulak Hord

Location: Korriban (Lore)

The secrets behind Tulak Hord’s great power were many, and they all but vanished from the galaxy with the Dark Lord’s death. Generations of Sith have obsessed over unearthing his ancient teachings and artifacts, but Tulak Hord hid them well.

Of the relics recovered successfully, the mask of Tulak Hord is most recognizable. Darth Revan discovered this relic in Tulak Hord’s tomb while searching for the Star Forge space station, though both the mask of Tulak Hord and the mask of Darth Revan have disappeared since. In recent years, Tulak Hord’s lightsaber was unearthed on Dromund Fels by Darth Marr before his ascension to the Dark Council.

Despite these discoveries, Tulak Hord’s greatest treasures still lie locked away in the far corners of the galaxy, waiting for a new master to claim their power.

The Ritual of Tulak Hord (Inquisitor)

Location: (Lore)

In his time as Dark Lord of the Sith, Tulak Hord was known as a master of the mystical dark arts of the Force, using his powers to plumb the depths of life and death. In the battles of Yn and Chabosh, Tulak Hord is believed to have used a ritual to draw the strength of his enemies to himself, growing his power and vitality.

One ritual of Tulak Hord’s gets only a scant mention in the histories, but is the subject of myth and legend–a ritual rumored to grant eternal life. No one has ever managed to uncover this mythical ritual, let alone perform it.

Tomb Raiders

Location: (Organization)

The ancient Sith tombs of Korriban have long been a target of raiders and treasure seekers with dreams of valuable plunder. While many are the minions and hirelings of Sith Lords hoping to lay their hands on powerful relics, others are daring fortune hunters who come from offworld and risk conflict with the Sith.

Individual pirates and rogues occasionally arrive stowed away on ships, but a more organized group led by an eccentric underworld figure has infiltrated shipments of slaves sent to the red planet. Once on the surface, the “slaves” sneak into the tombs; few ever leave Korriban, but those who survive are paid handsomely for their trouble.

Force Ghost

Location: (Lore)

Death comes for all; the Jedi and Sith are no exception. Yet some who master the Force seem to find ways to resist the call of eternity and exist as an essence of their former selves. In this form, they may speak with the living and guide–or manipulate–old friends and former enemies.

The most notable example in recorded Sith history is Darth Vax, a prominent member of the Dark Council. After her death, she was unable to let go of the power and influence she enjoyed during life. When her son took her vacant seat on the Council and assumed the title of Darth Arrid, she began manipulating him behind the scenes, making him a puppet for her own agenda. Four years passed before the Council realized the young Darth Arrid was only a mouthpiece for the spirit of his mother.

The Red Engine

Location: Korriban (Lore)

Created by the ancient Sith Lord Tulak Hord, the Red Engine was an infernal machine powered by hate and blood. Located deep in its creator’s tomb, legend holds that those who unlock the secrets of the terrible device will gain access to the hidden teachings of Tulak Hord himself. Despite this potential prize, most scholars who have studied the Red Machine Engine have eventually given up in frustration, thwarted by the complexities of the sinister invention.

Korriban’s Dark Draw

Location: (Lore)

For as long as the Republic has known of Korriban, the idea of capturing the Sith homeworld has been a major topic of discussion. Some believe it would mark a major turning point in the war against the Empire. Others, however, share a grave concern that prolonged habitation on the planet would cause its occupiers to be drawn to the dark side of the Force.

A group of Jedi once encamped upon one of Korriban’s seven moons with the aim of lessening the planet’s intense dark side aura through meditation, but the call of the dark side overcame every last one of them in time. The group defected to the Empire, and have since been linked to the deaths of hundreds of Republic soldiers and civilians, as well as several Jedi.

Taking the Sith Academy

Location: (Lore)

To disrupt the path of Sith apprentices hoping to one day become Dark Lords, even if it’s for a moment, would be seen as a victory to many. But the true value of capturing the Sith Academy lies within the restricted halls and chambers of the Dark Council.

Though Sith are known to destroy sources of information in order to obfuscate the truth, the Emperor had accumulated a vast repository of arcane and taboo knowledge which is now believed to be curated by the Dark Council. This “dark library” could potentially be used to serve the Republic’s interests instead of the Empire’s–if administered with great caution.

Force-walking (Inquisitor)

Location: (Lore)

Three hundred years after Tulak Hord, the Sith Ergast tried to recreate the ritual the Dark Lord used to devour the spirits of his enemies at Yn and Chabosh. In its place, he discovered what he called the ritual of Force-walking.

Requiring a Sith of great strength of will, the ritual of Force-walking allows the user to bind the restless ghosts of dead Sith to himself. Once the ghosts are bound, the ritualist may draw from their power, channeling it into a powerful exertion of Force energy against his enemies.

Force-walking Sickness (Inquisitor)

Location: (Lore)

Of the few recorded people who successfully learned the Sith Lord Ergast’s Force-walking ritual, all of them rose to prominence quickly and faded from glory shortly thereafter, with nothing to indicate what brought about their ends. Among them, only one was known to have bound more than one Sith ghost–and that was Ergast himself, whose own death remains a mystery.

It appears, however, that binding too many ghosts can quickly overwhelm the host, inflicting physical and spiritual sickness on the Force-walking Sith and leading to violent expressions of Force power beyond the Sith’s control.

Kira Carsen’s Dark Past (Knight)

Location: (Lore)

Kira Carsen concealed her true origins from the Jedi Order, but the truth finally came out when one of the Emperor’s servants set a trap to bring her home. Kira was born in Imperial space and raised at Korriban’s Sith Academy. She escaped her deadly training while still a child and fled to Hutt Space before being taken in by Master Bela Kiwiiks.

Kira kept her past a secret out of fear of being shunned by her adopted Jedi family–or worse, being imprisoned for her connection to the Sith. Although she claims to be a loyal servant of the light side, the fact remains that good Jedi do not keep such secrets from their allies.

Republic Occupation of Korriban

Location: (Lore)

Though Korriban has only been reclaimed as home of the Sith Order in recent decades, its rich ties to the Empire reach back thousands of years. For Republic forces to set foot on the planet, let alone capture the Sith Academy and Dark Council Chambers, is a great indignity to the Empire’s leadership.

It has been reported that, upon hearing the news, Darth Marr ordered the full destruction of the nearest Republic-friendly space station. While this claim remains unsubstantiated, it does correctly illustrate the enduring rage felt by many across the galaxy. Even if the Sith Academy is wrested from Republic control, it may never again be regarded with the same pride it once was.

Dromund Kaas

Dromund Kaas

Location: Dromund Kaas (Planet)

Dromund Kaas is the capital of the Sith Empire, founded a millennium ago in the aftermath of the Great Hyperspace War. Since then, the sleek metropolis of Kaas City has grown into a symbol of Imperial power, towering over the surrounding jungle and looming dark against the stormy skies.

The military and the Sith have authority here, under the eye of the Emperor himself. Aside from the wildlife, the greatest threats are internal–slave revolts, feuding Sith Lords and the like. Planetary defenses are formidable, as the Empire still remembers its defeat and exile long ago.

Sith Intelligence

Location: (Organization)

Even before the collapse of Imperial Intelligence, the Dark Council yearned for an agency of their own design. With Sith Lord Lana Beniko taking a role equivalent to that of Minister of Intelligence, the council can better ensure that their interests are being met. Beniko’s role in uprooting the Order of Revan’s agents within the Empire further cements the sound logic of her appointment. Rumors have taken root that Beniko’s authority is being shared to some extent with a former commander of Imperial Intelligence, but this has neither been confirmed nor denied.

The primary goals of Sith Intelligence do not appear to have appreciably changed from its predecessor: they exist to gather substantive data on past, present, and future persons and organizations of interest; to quietly develop a stable of varied and valuable assets throughout the galaxy; and, above all, to protect the Sith Empire from threats both without and within.

Grathan Estate

Location: Dromund Kaas

The estate of the rogue Sith Lord Grathan is a miniature fortress, reinforced by cutting-edge weapons technology and experimental shielding. Lord Grathan’s cadre of scientists are constantly upgrading the defenses to ensure that air strikes fail to do harm–only ground-based attacks can do real damage. It’s the perfect place for a rogue Sith Lord to make his stand.

Lord Grathan has been reinforcing his territory and adding sublevels to his manor for years, suggesting that his plan to declare himself the thirteenth Dark Council member has been in progress longer than many assume. Any number of traps and treasures may exist deep underground, guarded by Grathan’s personal guards and automated war droids.

Imperial Intelligence

Location: Dromund Kaas

Behind the Sith and the powerful Imperial military is the vast network of agents, information gatherers, deception specialists and strategists that makes up Imperial Intelligence. Part spy organization, part secret police, Imperial Intelligence handles all of the Empire’s covert operations–guarding the Empire’s secrets, acquiring valuable intel from the Republic, hunting down traitors and cleaning up messes created by unhinged Sith Lords.

Imperial Intelligence reports to the Minister of Intelligence, who in turn reports directly to the Dark Council. Not a military organization, Imperial Intelligence officers are nonetheless viewed with respect by military and civilian personnel–it’s Intelligence that can judge a person as loyal or traitorous, arrange the advancement of a career or the blacklisting of a powerful leader.

A place in Imperial Intelligence is a coveted rank, reserved for some of the best of the Empire’s non-Force sensitive subjects. In some cases, officers are “poached” by Sith Lords seeking to build their own specialized intelligence networks; for the most part, however, Intelligence personnel go unnoticed by anyone outside the organization. The best agents are the ones no one’s ever heard of.

Kaas City

Location: Dromund Kaas

The capital city of the Imperial homeworld of Dromund Kaas is one part massive skyscrapers and one part impenetrable fortress. It is host to the Citadel, where the Sith of the Dark Council (and those who aspire to the Dark Council) lord over their followers, and the headquarters of the Imperial military and Imperial Intelligence.

Kaas City was founded by the first Sith to arrive on Dromund Kaas, who saw the gorges and ravines of the jungle world as the perfect place to build their eternal sanctuary. Over the following centuries, its population grew into the millions–proud Imperials working toward the glory of the Sith and slaves submitting to Imperial will. Kaas City is also where the Emperor is believed to make his home, keeping a watchful eye on his Empire.

The Citadel

Location: Dromund Kaas

The Citadel stands at the heart of Kaas City, a monument to the Sith Empire’s strength and home to its most powerful Dark Lords. The Ministries of War, Intelligence and Logistics are all headquartered here, along with a Mandalorian enclave. The Emperor’s Dark Council gathers to meet in the Citadel when not on the Sith holy world of Korriban.

The original Citadel mimicked the designs of Korriban’s Sith Academy and the Great Citadel on Ziost, but it was destroyed four hundred years ago when two members of the Dark Council fought an ancient Sith duel, called the Kaggath, on its grounds. The duel was a draw, and both of the combatants were executed by the remaining Dark Council members, who oversaw the rebuilding of the Citadel in its current form.

The Dark Temple

Location: Dromund Kaas

Hundreds of years ago, the Sith Emperor ordered the construction of the Dark Temple as a burial place for his dead and defeated enemies, “to aid them in becoming one with the Force.” Little is known of what rituals the Emperor performed there, but the Dark Temple has become a nexus of powerful dark side energy, and a place where ancient weapons and ancient secrets of the Sith lay sealed away in cavernous chambers.

Although the Dark Temple grounds have always been a dangerous place for the weak-willed (the expansion of the Kaas City power grid into tunnels beneath the temple drove a thousand slaves mad), the temple itself remained sealed until recently, when an expedition of power-hungry Sith Lords and their servants breached the gateway.

The Dark Council did not sanction this intrusion, nor did it punish the rogue Sith; no one returned from the expedition to punish. Violent electrical storms surrounded the temple for the first week after it was opened, and since then, additional expeditions have been sent by the council to determine the temple’s status. Their reports have not been made public.

The Mandalorian Enclave

Location: Dromund Kaas

The most recent architectural addition to the Citadel, the Mandalorian enclave is reserved for the Empire’s allies among the mercenary Mandalorian warrior clans. Although it may appear to be a simple embassy from the outside, the proceedings inside are anything but diplomatic. The enclave is a place where new warriors come to test themselves against the Mandalorians and compete in violent (and often deadly) tournaments, as well as where the best among the Mandalorians help plan the Empire’s next strikes.

The Sith Sanctum

Location: Dromund Kaas

The Sith Sanctum is the heart of the Sith Order on Dromund Kaas, where lords gather and where the Dark Council meets when not on the Imperial burial world of Korriban. The Emperor himself is believed to have chambers in the sanctum’s lower levels, though none save the council and the Imperial Guard are allowed into its depths.

The original Citadel, like the Sith Academy on Korriban, was off-limits to everyone but the Sith. After the Citadel was rebuilt, the headquarters of the three Imperial ministries were added; more recently, the Mandalorian enclave was given a wing within the sprawling building. As a result, chambers in the Sith Sanctum have become an increased source of conflict and backstabbing among aspiring Sith. A place in the Sith Sanctum signifies aspirations to the Dark Council, or a prominent role in the direct governing of Dromund Kaas.

The Unfinished Colossus

Location: Dromund Kaas

A massive, unfinished statue towering over the jungles of Dromund Kaas, the colossus was the project of Dark Council member Darth Vowrawn’s ambitious apprentice, Lord Qet. In a bid to advance in prestige within the Sith Order, Lord Qet commissioned the construction of the colossus–a statue of his master–in secret, bringing in offworld slaves to do the work. The slaves rebelled, and now the colossus stands unfinished while the slaves search for a way to destroy it and win their freedom through force. Lord Qet has been trying to end the rebellion and finish the colossus, but other Sith Lords have seen the chaos as an opportunity to advance their own reputations in the Empire.

The Wilds

Location: Dromund Kaas

When the Sith discovered Dromund Kaas, it was an untamed jungle world, uninhabited by any sentient species. Over centuries, gleaming and orderly Imperial cities have spread to cover most of the planet, but stretches of harsh, untamed wilderness remain. Populated by violent predators such as the gundark and jurgoran, the wilds separate Kaas City from its spaceport and are best navigated at a safe distance, by speeder, rather than on foot.

Lord Parnax’s Lost Recordings

Location: Dromund Kaas (Lore)

The Sith Lord Parnax vanished forty years ago, leaving no one to mourn his passing. Deeply unpopular even among his own family, Parnax spent his brief career betraying every ally while acquiring an impressive list of highly placed enemies. Whether consumed by arrogance or simply too stupid to predict his eventual fate, he appears to have deliberately invaded the Dark Temple long before the most recent incursion, seeking the key to the Emperor’s power.

According to the last few entries of his journals, Parnax found himself unable to leave the Dark Temple after entering it, becoming lost and disoriented. His recordings descend into mad, incoherent ramblings about an all-consuming darkness extinguishing all life in the galaxy. Convinced he could survive this coming doom by merging with the Force, Parnax illogically schemed to end his own life.

Monument to Lord Ergast

Location: Dromund Kaas (Lore)

The early Sith Lord Ergast is more myth than historical fact, and the statue named for him in Kaas City does little to clear up any misconceptions. Commissioned by a follower of Ergast’s teachings two centuries after the Sith Lord supposedly lived and using that follower as its model, a small inscription near its base claims that Ergast “invented the methods used by all inquisitors to wring life from the living and the dead.” Computer records contain little information on Ergast, suggesting only that he was among the first Sith to permanently settle on Dromund Kaas, and that he was probably buried there.

Sithspawn

Location: Dromund Kaas (Lore)

In the ancient past, the Sith Lords of Korriban perfected an art they called alchemy–a synthesis of scientific lore and dark side philosophy. Sith alchemy was a tool to transform life itself, to reshape flesh and bone and create terrifying servants out of mere animals.

Creations of Sith alchemy are called Sithspawn. Each is unique, crafted by the hand of a Dark Lord with monstrous intent. Most are ancient, as few Sith continue to practice alchemy; although the art is not lost, it has fallen out of favor. A Sithspawn is unnatural by definition, built for near-immortality and typically violent beyond measure; a perfect weapon, and if bound, a perfect guardian.

The Blade of the Sith Executioner

Location: Dromund Kaas (Lore)

Forged in a time before Sith wielded lightsabers, the ceremonial executioner’s blade was later used by Sith Lord Koval Renge who preferred the tactile weapon over his traditional lightsaber. Lord Renge used the blade to dispatch hundreds of the Emperor’s enemies and earned the title of Sith Executioner.

As the Emperor’s power grew, so did Renge’s fear of his master. Fear turned to betrayal, but Renge’s plot did not escape the Emperor’s notice. As punishment, the executioner’s blade was turned on its owner. Renge resisted, but the blade struck true and broke off in his chest.

Renge was not permitted the escape of death. His wounds were healed, and the tainted splinter of his blade remained buried inside him. He was then cast into the Dark Temple, the agonizing splinter a constant reminder of the Emperor’s cruel benevolence.

The Obliteration of Kressh

Location: Dromund Kaas (Lore)

Since before the Great Hyperspace War, the Kressh bloodline was a proud and noble one in the Empire. Pureblooded Sith Lords, strong in the Force, were born to the Kressh line generation after generation. Statues and monuments to Kressh champions could be found across Dromund Kaas–until the Emperor declared the Kressh name an abomination and ordered all evidence of the family obliterated.

The reasons why are no longer clear, if they ever were. Once the task is complete, the order itself will be wiped from history. Some believe that the last scion of the Kressh bloodline somehow betrayed the Emperor–but anyone who knows the full truth keeps it to himself.

The Spires of Victory

Location: Dromund Kaas (Lore)

This strange, suspended monument was commissioned by the late Dark Council member Darth Gorgos in celebration of the Empire’s victorious return to the galaxy and the Sacking of Coruscant. It is the work of the Empire’s finest engineers and took three hundred slaves to build. The cascading prisms symbolize both the ascendancy of the Sith and the downfall of their enemies. The split centerpiece that supports the edifice represents the Emperor. Darth Gorgos was murdered by her apprentice before the statue was finished, but her successor oversaw its completion.

Lightning Spires

Location: (Lore)

The lightning spires of Dromund Kaas tower above the planet’s dark jungles, attracting the deadly lightning strikes that constantly scorch the world’s storm-ravaged surface. The spires protect ground forces from falling prey to deadly strikes and harness the storm’s electrical energy to power Kaas City.

The lightning spires were originally conceived by Renigus Wight, a former commander in the Imperial Reclamation Service. Renigus was spearheading an excavation mission in the jungles of Dromund Kaas when a violent storm erupted in the skies overhead. His officers ran for shelter, but were too slow. A single bolt of lightning wiped out his entire crew: 49 officers, researchers and slaves. Renigus only survived thanks to the grace of a twisted ankle that caused him to lag behind the panicked stampede and miss the fatal strike.

Following this incident, Renigus retired from the service to design the first lightning spire-a beacon of safety to shield future Imperial expeditions from the planet’s wrathful storms.

Imperial Outreach Division

Location: (Organization)

Established to facilitate indoctrinating the Empire’s military forces, the Imperial Outreach Division identifies opportunities to minimize defection and improve morale. The division operates primarily among the lower ranks, focusing on ground troops almost entirely.

The division’s efforts include organizing mandatory enrichment activities, such as motivational and educational speeches, tours of important historical sites, and approved off-duty events. Maintaining control over the lives of the enlisted permits the Empire to easily root out dissidents and thwart troublesome rumors or behaviors.

The division is well-liked by most soldiers–a testament to its successful façade of caring about the well-being of the Empire’s forces on an individual level.

Grathan Forces

Location: (Organization)

The rogue Sith Lord Grathan has declared himself the thirteenth Dark Council member, with his own power base and sphere of influence within the Sith hierarchy. Although his claim has not been widely recognized, he controls a substantial private army on Dromund Kaas. The Dark Council has authorized all-out warfare against Lord Grathan and anyone who supports him.

After being driven from the Citadel, Lord Grathan holed up in his estate outside Kaas City. His forces there are made up of apprentices, loyal Imperial troops and cybernetic supersoldiers he developed in his secret weapons labs. His cadre of elite scientists–some volunteers, others kidnapped and forced into service–manufactures a seemingly endless number of war droids, as well, reducing attrition in Grathan’s army to near zero.

Hadra Forces

Location: (Organization)

The twelve members of the Dark Council preside over twelve pyramids, or spheres, of influence within the Empire. The Dark Council member who presides over Dromund Kaas, Darth Hadra, is currently embroiled in a conflict with the Dark Council member in charge of ancient Sith secrets and history, Darth Arctis.

Darth Hadra’s forces discovered an ancient Sith shrine outside Kaas City and claimed it in her name. Darth Arctis quickly challenged her claim to the discovery, arguing that the contents of the shrine were his domain. While the conflict over the shrine has not yet come to all-out warfare between the two Dark Council members, Darth Hadra has positioned her forces in the area around the shrine, with orders to attack anyone who trespasses. The rest of the Dark Council is turning a blind eye toward any fighting with Hadra’s forces while Hadra and Arctis “negotiate” for control of the shrine.

Rebelling Slaves

Location: (Organization)

Brought from off-world by Lord Qet to build a massive monument to Qet’s master, Darth Vowrawn, these slaves quickly rebelled, seizing industrial drills to destroy the unfinished statue and killing all who came to suppress their rebellion.

Many theories abound as to how the rebellion started, and its duration suggests that other, more powerful parties have become involved in secretly supporting the rebels. This is the largest slave rebellion in Dromund Kaas history, and second only to the rebellion led by Dakar Sol on Malachor Five in the history of the Empire.

Efforts have been made to contain the rebellion and keep it from spilling over into Kaas City, but the Dark Council has yet to act decisively on the matter, preferring to let the rebellion continue as a warning to overambitious Sith.

Revanites

Location: (Organization)

The secret society known as the Order of Revan is known only to its members and a few inquisitive outsiders. The society is believed to be several hundred strong, ranging from powerful and influential Sith Lords to military officers and alien slaves–low status is no barrier to entry, but personal power and fervor are everything. Some so-called Revanites devote their lives to the cult’s teachings and exist outside of mainstream Imperial society; others study and meet in secret while maintaining ordinary lives.

The Order of Revan takes its name from an ancient Sith Lord–a fallen Jedi who used both the dark side and the light side of the Force during his lifetime. Revan drew strength from passion, as well as tranquility; took allies who were human and alien, weak and strong. Revanites seek to emulate Revan’s ways, seeing him as the greatest of all teachers.

Revanite Compound

Location: Dromund Kaas

Outsiders in Sith society, followers of the philosophies of the mysterious Darth Revan meet in a hidden enclave in the jungles of Dromund Kaas, submitting any who want to join them to rigorous tests to establish their loyalty and sincerity.

Originally, the Revanites met in Kaas City to study Revan’s teachings, but as suspicions arose about the Revanites’ loyalties to the Emperor and the Dark Council, they were forced to conceal their activities. At first, they took shelter in the compound of a prominent Sith Lord, but when that Sith was assassinated (presumably for supporting the Revanites), they were forced to relocate their sacred texts and relics and build their sanctuary in the jungle.

Revanites inside the Imperial military and the Sith have kept the compound from appearing on most scans of the area. Explorers who stumble upon the compound are rarely heard from again.

Dromund Kaas (KOTET)

Location: Dromund Kaas (Planet)

Dromund Kaas is the capital of the Sith Empire, founded a millennium ago in the aftermath of the Great Hyperspace War. Since then, the sleek metropolis of Kaas City has grown into a symbol of Imperial power, towering over the surrounding jungle and looming dark against the stormy skies. Once ruled by the Sith Emperor’s watchful eye, the world is now controlled by Empress Acina with support from the Imperial military and the Sith who survived the conquest of the Eternal Empire. Planetary defenses are formidable, as the Empire still remembers its defeat and exile long ago.

The Reformed Dark Council

Location: (Organization)

After her rise to the throne of the Sith Empire, Empress Acina streamlined the structure of the Dark Council, reducing its size from twelve seats to five. Each of these Dark Councillors now oversee two to three of the spheres of power controlled by the original council.
The new seats on the Dark Council and the spheres they oversee are structured as follows:

Sith Doctrine
–Ancient Knowledge
–Mysteries
–Philosophy

Military Command
–Defense of the Empire
–Military Offense
–Military Strategy

Scientific Advancement
–Technology
–Biotic Science

Civil Administration
–Production and Logistics
–Laws and Justice

Galactic Influence
–Sith Intelligence
–Expansion and Diplomacy

Children of the Emperor (Consular)

Location: (Organization)

Despite the Jedi Council’s best efforts, only a little is known of the so-called Children of the Emperor. Infants of all species taken before the Sith Emperor, the children are infused with the Emperor’s strength, sharing some measure of his thoughts and power for the rest of their lives. They become the Emperor’s eyes and ears, and–should the Emperor focus his presence upon them–his puppets. It is believed that the children have some way to hide their dark presence from Jedi senses, meaning they can exist undetected within the Republic.

The position of the Children of the Emperor within the Sith hierarchy is unclear. Few Sith appear to even know of their existence, and Sith who investigate rumors of the children have been known to disappear without a trace. Since the Emperor would not go to such elaborate lengths simply to create infiltrators in the Republic, the true purpose behind the children remains a mystery.

The Phobis Devices

Location: Dromund Kaas (Lore)

Fear is a powerful weapon, and those who wield it can rule the galaxy. The Phobis devices were constructed for just that purpose. Brimming with dark energy, their mere presence was enough to spark crippling horror in the bravest of minds. Many Sith who meditated on the devices were driven mad by their attempt. Only the lost Sith Dread Masters successfully harnessed and perfected the Phobis devices’ frightening power.

Three known Phobis devices exist, and the Emperor sealed one of them–the Core–within his Dark Temple. Although its dormant components have been scavenged, the Phobis Core remains active and will likely spread fear and hysteria for generations to come.

Servants of the Emperor

Location: (Organization)

After a new regime seized control of the Sith Empire during the war with Zakuul, members of the order known as “The Emperor’s Hand” refused to swear fealty to their new leaders.

Before the former emperor fell from power, the “Servants,” as members of the Emperor’s Hand referred to themselves, served the former emperor directly. Although the former emperor no longer ruled over the Sith, the Servants would not kneel for any other.

The Servants are steadfast in their belief that the former emperor will one day return and reign again in all his past glory. To see this come to pass, they continue to scheme in the shadows, away from the eyes of the Sith Empire, carrying out orders they believe are still being spoken from the former Sith Emperor himself.

Task Force Nova

Location: (Organization)

With the Jedi Order scattered in the aftermath of the war against Zakuul, the Republic faces a key disadvantage in their war against the Sith Empire, whose Force users are more focused and united than in past conflicts. Eager to regain their lost allies, the Republic has formed Task Force Nova, a united civilian/military/Jedi effort to rebuild and revitalize the Jedi.

Given the importance of its mission, Task Force Nova has been granted top priority status and accelerated access to any resources necessary to locate and unite the unknown number of Jedi still in hiding across the galaxy, as well as any training efforts needed to prepare the next generation of Jedi to defend the Republic from its longtime foes.

The Emperor’s Fallen Jedi (Knight)

Location: (Organization)

The Sith Emperor has mastered the dark side’s power to become the most dominating Force-user the galaxy has ever seen. His corrupting influence is so complete that none can stand in his presence without succumbing to fear, anger and hatred. The Emperor can wither and ruin even the strongest Jedi’s connection to the light side.

Jedi Master Tol Braga’s strike team was not the first group to succumb to the Sith leader’s oppressive influence. Hundreds of years ago, the Jedi Revan and Malak discovered Dromund Kaas and confronted the Emperor. They fell to the dark side and returned to Republic space as Sith Lords. Since then, dozens more Jedi have followed the same path into evil.

The Emperor’s Hand (Warrior)

Location: (Organization)

Few on the Dark Council are even aware that there is another layer of power between themselves and the Emperor: a mysterious group called the Emperor’s Hand. These men and women work entirely behind the scenes to carry out the Emperor’s most secret orders. They alone are in constant contact with their master and know his true purpose. Through the power of the dark side, the Emperor’s thoughts are theirs, and their wills are his to command.

The Hand does not involve itself with the Empire’s day to day workings. Its members are not pawns to be sacrificed or slaves to serve anything less than their master’s grandest design. The Emperor’s Hand only moves when it is time to strike a decisive blow.

The Hand of the Empire

Location: (Organization)

Reformed in the wake of the assault on the Meridian Complex shipyard, the Hand of the Empire is an elite organization operating outside the authority of the Dark Council. Agents of the Hand act with the full authority of the Imperial throne, granting them extraordinary leeway in carrying out their missions across the galaxy.

Although it maintains an air of mystery among the general public, the modern incarnation of the Hand is strictly pragmatic, focused only on securing victory for the Empire over its Republic enemies – unlike the original Hand, whose members were fanatical zealots so obsessed with serving their master that they were willing to sacrifice themselves and all other life in the galaxy to serve his apocalyptic agenda.

Plan Zero (Warrior)

Location: (Lore)

Canny observers speculate that Darth Baras has not been wielding his full strength in the power games of the Sith for years. The reason is Plan Zero, an elegant strategy with one purpose: decapitating the Republic’s military leadership in preparation for total war.

Darth Baras cares nothing for the Republic military’s obvious heroes. The men who truly matter are behind the scenes. Beginning with the capture of Republic SIS agents in the Outer Rim and culminating in the circumspect cultivation of greedy Senators through proxies, Darth Baras has spent vast resources patiently piecing together information on the Republic’s greatest–and most elusive–generals.

Although Plan Zero was composed at Darth Vengean’s directive, it was Baras who has spent almost a decade readying it in secret. No other Sith may interfere, and no Republic spy can warn the Plan Zero targets. Now that the plan has been enacted, Baras’s apprentice will topple one great Republic leader after the next–until war is certain, and total victory is inevitable.

The Emperor’s Plan (Knight)

Location: (Lore)

Every decision the Sith Emperor has made for the last millennium has been in the service of one dark goal: the complete annihilation of every living thing in the galaxy. The Emperor’s desire is not destruction for its own sake, however. He is not a nihilist. The Emperor intends to feed on the galaxy’s extinction and draw that energy into himself, giving him true immortality–and a godlike mastery of the Force.

The Jedi can only speculate on what the Emperor will do if his plan succeeds. Does he intend to preserve any followers, or live on alone? With such unlimited power, could he plant the seeds of life and raise a new galaxy from the old one’s ashes?

Malgus’s Vision

Location: (Lore)

The Empire will be victorious over the Republic; this is unquestioned. But to Darth Malgus, victory should have come with the Sacking of Coruscant. Now, he believes, the obscure designs of the Sith Emperor, a cultural disdain for aliens and infighting within the Sith have all left the Empire incapable of winning the war.

With his mind broadened–or tainted–by years of travel and study among alien cultures, Malgus carefully cultivated the opinions of likeminded Sith leaders for years. Upon the recent disappearance of the Emperor, he seized the opportunity to create a new Empire–one that embraces alien cultures and is strengthened by diversity. All allies of the new Empire will be considered equal citizens, guided by Imperial discipline and values. Personal strength and accomplishment, not genetics, will determine an Imperial’s fate.

Malgus is aware that many will not share his vision. But with a stealth armada at his command and the Emperor’s space station as his base, he is prepared to prove the power of his new Empire to all dissenters.

The New Sith Empire

Location: (Lore)

The Eternal Empire of Zakuul’s emergence had grave consequences for the Sith Empire. Darth Marr’s execution left the Sith leaderless as the armies of Zakuul ravaged their worlds. Most of the remaining Dark Council were slain or went into hiding, and the once proud Sith Empire was forced into a humiliating surrender.

As the new Sith Empress, Darth Acina swore fealty to the Eternal Throne. Under her rule, the Sith were allowed to maintain authority over most of the planets they had conquered, though each world paid a substantial monthly tribute to Zakuul.

Severe restrictions were also placed on the Sith military, with strict quotas imposed on the number of ships and troops allowed to remain in active service. However, there are rumors the Sith secretly–and rapidly–rebuilt their military since Vaylin came to power in anticipation of a renewed bid for independence.