Darth Sidious
01-17-2006, 00:32
Like the Jedi Order, which has a clearly defined hierarchy of titles (Jedi Initiate, or "youngling," to Jedi Padawan to Jedi Knight to Jedi Master to Jedi Grand Master), the Sith Order has a ranking system to divide the strong from the stronger, though it should be noted that, due to the great number of successive incarnations of the order, Sith hierarchy didn't maintain a single continuous ranking system throughout its history. Like the Jedi and the Old Republic, the Sith underwent a great reformation after the apocalyptic Battle of Ruusan, and the ranks of the Sith Order were among the things changed. Prior to that, however, Sith hierarchy remained much the same for almost 6,000 years: Sith Minion to Sith Acolyte to Sith Warrior to Sith Lord to Dark Lord of the Sith. For the most part this ranking system remained the same, through the ancient Sith Empire, Exar Kun's Brotherhood of the Sith, and Darth Revan's Sith Empire, until Lord Kaan declared that all of his highest ranking followers in the Sith Brotherhood of Darkness were Dark Lords of the Sith. Following the Sith Order's destruction at the Seventh Battle of Ruusan, Darth Bane reformed the order and decreed that there would only two Sith at a time from that point onward: a Master and an apprentice. Both would bear the title "Dark Lord of the Sith," which at that point in time became interchangeable with the term "Sith Lord."
Sith prestige classes:
Note: the following text refers to the Sith class structure as presented in the Star Wars D20 RPG System; the division of classes is for gameplay purposes and does not necessarily represent the "real" structure of the Sith.
In addition to their standard hierarchy, the Sith maintained a system of titles called "prestige classes," similar to the Jedi sub-categories of Guardian, Consular, Sentinel, Master, Watchman, and Weapon Master.
Sith Assassins
Sith Assassins are Sith who prefer to attack from the shadows and assassinate targets rather than engaging them in standard combat. Almost always working solo or in small groups, they stride through crowded areas undetected using special stealth field generators or the rare art of Force camouflage, launching a surprise attack on a victim. While most may use lightsabers, some may use electro-staffs or blasters especially designed for sniping. Darth Sion commanded legions of Sith Assassins in the aftermath of the Second Sith War, causing the near-destruction of the Jedi.
Sith Marauders
Sith Marauders are often responsible for the most brutal murders carried out by the Sith; they are trained to become a living embodiment of a combat master empowered by the dark side. They are drawn from diverse groups, as varied as Jedi Knights, survivalists, martial artists, dark side marauders, mercenaries, and pirates, but they all use a lightsaber more often than the Force, with few emotions other than hate, rage, and cruelty; the dark side rewards these emotions with immense power, thusly a single Sith Marauder can often go toe-to-toe with any normal single Jedi in saber combat and win. While Marauders are not always the masterminds behind dark plots, they are usually the ones carrying out the plans of their Sith Lord masters.
Sith Lords
Sith Lords (this a title distinct from the appellation given the most powerful Sith) are the geniuses behind the most insidious plots and murders. Using the dark side of the Force to inflict misery, suffering, and corruption, few dare step in their way; Sith Lords are also charged with preserving the ancient lore of the Sith by passing them onto other Sith and their acolytes, and delving deeper into the mysteries of Sith alchemy and the Dark side itself. While they don't enter combat as often as the other classes (for they have more pawns and servants), they are the most fearsome of the Sith prestige classes, as they are the pinnacle of a Sith's evolution- almost all Sith Lords were previously a Warrior or Assassin, as rarely is an Acolyte talented enough to make the transition. Each Lord takes the long view. Their goal is to utterly destroy the Jedi, assuring themselves dominion of the galaxy. Their role is to nurture this grand project, extending their tendrils of influence throughout the galaxy. Each Lord may never see the fruition of his life-long dream, and must be content in the knowledge that they have advanced the project in the shadows a little bit, and that one day it will succeed. The most effective and infamous Sith Lords would likely be Darth Sidious and Darth Revan.
Sith prestige classes:
Note: the following text refers to the Sith class structure as presented in the Star Wars D20 RPG System; the division of classes is for gameplay purposes and does not necessarily represent the "real" structure of the Sith.
In addition to their standard hierarchy, the Sith maintained a system of titles called "prestige classes," similar to the Jedi sub-categories of Guardian, Consular, Sentinel, Master, Watchman, and Weapon Master.
Sith Assassins
Sith Assassins are Sith who prefer to attack from the shadows and assassinate targets rather than engaging them in standard combat. Almost always working solo or in small groups, they stride through crowded areas undetected using special stealth field generators or the rare art of Force camouflage, launching a surprise attack on a victim. While most may use lightsabers, some may use electro-staffs or blasters especially designed for sniping. Darth Sion commanded legions of Sith Assassins in the aftermath of the Second Sith War, causing the near-destruction of the Jedi.
Sith Marauders
Sith Marauders are often responsible for the most brutal murders carried out by the Sith; they are trained to become a living embodiment of a combat master empowered by the dark side. They are drawn from diverse groups, as varied as Jedi Knights, survivalists, martial artists, dark side marauders, mercenaries, and pirates, but they all use a lightsaber more often than the Force, with few emotions other than hate, rage, and cruelty; the dark side rewards these emotions with immense power, thusly a single Sith Marauder can often go toe-to-toe with any normal single Jedi in saber combat and win. While Marauders are not always the masterminds behind dark plots, they are usually the ones carrying out the plans of their Sith Lord masters.
Sith Lords
Sith Lords (this a title distinct from the appellation given the most powerful Sith) are the geniuses behind the most insidious plots and murders. Using the dark side of the Force to inflict misery, suffering, and corruption, few dare step in their way; Sith Lords are also charged with preserving the ancient lore of the Sith by passing them onto other Sith and their acolytes, and delving deeper into the mysteries of Sith alchemy and the Dark side itself. While they don't enter combat as often as the other classes (for they have more pawns and servants), they are the most fearsome of the Sith prestige classes, as they are the pinnacle of a Sith's evolution- almost all Sith Lords were previously a Warrior or Assassin, as rarely is an Acolyte talented enough to make the transition. Each Lord takes the long view. Their goal is to utterly destroy the Jedi, assuring themselves dominion of the galaxy. Their role is to nurture this grand project, extending their tendrils of influence throughout the galaxy. Each Lord may never see the fruition of his life-long dream, and must be content in the knowledge that they have advanced the project in the shadows a little bit, and that one day it will succeed. The most effective and infamous Sith Lords would likely be Darth Sidious and Darth Revan.