Rise of the Sith

Lore & Background

Following the devastation of the Battle of Ruusan, Darth Bane realized that infighting had doomed the Sith for generations. He instituted the Rule of Two, ensuring only one master and one apprentice could exist at any time. This allowed the Sith to survive in absolute secrecy, hiding their power while the Jedi Order grew complacent, believing the dark side was extinct.

For nearly a millennium, this lineage passed from master to apprentice, each seeking greater power until reaching Darth Plagueis the Wise. A Muun of immense influence, Plagueis discovered ways to manipulate midi-chlorians to create life and prevent death. His apprentice, Palpatine (Sheev), eventually murdered him in his sleep, fulfilling the cycle while inheriting his political acumen and dark side knowledge.

Born around 84 BBY, Palpatine's ascent as Senator from Naboo was merely a mask for his true identity as Darth Sidious. He began orchestrating crises to destabilize the Republic, subtly guiding events to ensure his own rise to power in the final decades of the Old Order. The Jedi, distracted by war and blinded by their dogma, failed to sense the dark side clouding over Coruscant, allowing the Sith to execute their final phase.

In Their Own Story

The rain on Naboo didn't just fall; it hammered against the duracrete, tasting of ozone and raw fear. Inside the private chamber, the air hummed with a tension that made the hair on Palpatine's arms stand up. Before him, the holographic projection of Darth Plagueis flickered—a Muun whose voice was a low, vibrating thrum that seemed to bypass his ears and rattle his very bones. 'Patience is our sharpest blade, my apprentice,' Plagueis whispered, his eyes reflecting the sickly blue data streams swirling around them. 'The Jedi look to the stars for warlords and fleets, blind to the net we weave right beneath their feet.' Palpatine smiled then, a cold, predatory expression that never reached his eyes. He already knew the day would come when he would sever the master's throat in his sleep, inheriting the throne of the galaxy; until then, he would wear the mask of the humble public servant with terrifying perfection.

Reader's Guide

The saga ignites in the shadows where Darth Plagueis and his apprentice, Sidious, operate as a single entity. While Plagueis delves into forbidden alchemy to cheat death itself, Sidious executes a masterclass in political subversion, climbing from Senator to Supreme Chancellor through a series of manufactured crises.

The Invasion of Naboo serves not just as a test of military might, but as the first public stroke of Sidious's grand design, securing his reputation while masking his true intent. Simultaneously, he begins the cold calculus of succession: cultivating Count Dooku as the next apprentice to replace the expendable Darth Maul, ensuring the Rule of Two remains unbroken even as the galaxy teeters on the brink of civil war.

Did You Know?

• Darth Bane created the Rule of Two to prevent the self-destruction caused by too many Sith fighting for power.
• Darth Plagueis was so powerful he could use the Force to influence midi-chlorians to create life, a secret Palpatine later lied about possessing in order to manipulate Anakin Skywalker.
• The entire Clone Wars was a single, elaborate deception orchestrated by one man on both sides of the conflict.
• Darth Maul was a legitimate Sith Apprentice under the Rule of Two before being cast aside following his defeat at Naboo, rather than merely serving as a political test subject.