SECTION IV: THE SITH WAR

-3,998 to -3,997 BSW4

Senator Netus is appointed as Minister of Defence of the Republic.

Dace Diath travels to Ossus to train under Jedi Master Vodo-Siosk Baas.

During a Sith ritual, Queen Amanoa of Onderon is visited by the ghost of the ancient Sith Lord Freedon Nadd. He warns her that if the ongoing battle between Iziz and the Beast Riders continues, she will be destroyed. In a panic, Amanoa calls upon the Jedi Knights to help bring the war on her world to an end…

On the planet Arcadia, Master Arca Jeth sends his three students -- the impulsive Ulic Qel-Droma, his younger brother Cay, and the Twi'lek Tott Doneeta -- to Onderon, which has asked for the Republic's help in repelling the attack of the newly armed Beast Lords. Scarcely have they landed when a Beast Lord attack carries away Princess Galia. Tott and Cay are reluctant to continue -- there's something wrong here with the people of Iziz -- but a headstrong Ulic won't listen. A rescue mission turns much more serious when their ship the Nebulon Ranger is shot down. They tame the local Boma beasts and make their way to the Beast Lord's headquarters -- where they learn Galia wants to marry Oron Kira, youngest head of the Beast Lords. When they try to negotiate a peace treaty on that basis, they learn first - hand how the Dark Side has taken control of Iziz, the one walled city on Onderon.

A battle ensues between Beast Lords and the city, where Cay has his arm chopped off, and the Jedi are nearly overcome by Queen Amanoa's Dark Side powers. Only the last minute intervention of Arca saves the Beast Lords, who wrest control from the city dwellers. Amanoa dies when Arca exposes her to the power of the Light Side, and Oron and Galia are married and become King and Queen of Onderon. Meanwhile, on H'ratth, Andur Sunrider takes his wife Nomi and daughter Vima on a trip to Stenness, to deliver a cargo of Adegan crystals (lightsaber components) to Master Thon. But the cargo attracts the attention of gangster Bogga the Hutt, who has Andur killed at the Stenness spaceport before Nomi's eyes. Andur's ghost appears and urges her to take up his lightsaber -- which she does, killing her attackers. Nomi escapes to the desolate world of Ambria, to meet with Master Thon. Bogga follows her and attacks Thon's home, only to be repelled by Thon and his student Oss Wilum. After being allowed time to grieve, Nomi is gradually trained by Thon, but there's a problem -- she won’t pick up a lightsaber again, for any reason. But when Bogga (using a pirate crew he captured) jumps Nomi, Vima, and Thon at a mountaintop rest stop, and a frustrated Thon surrenders to Bogga without a fight, Nomi finds she no longer has a choice, and uses Thon’s own lightsaber to tear the pirate gang apart.

On Onderon, a sudden uprising of Dark warriors besieges Iziz. When the Jedi attempt to take Freedon Nadd's coffin off - planet, they are overwhelmed by Darksiders led by the armored Warb Null, who effortlessly spirits the coffin away. Even Oss Wilum, summoned by Arca from Ambria, is unable to help much. King Ommin, Galia's father, is revealed to be the leader -- and leading him is the dark spirit of Freedon Nadd himself. When Arca is kidnapped by Ommin, Ulic (after killing Null) calls for help to the Republic. On Ossus, Nomi Sunrider constructs her own lightsaber under the instruction of Master Vodo-Siosk Baas, along with a sightless fellow student, Shoaneb Culu of Alpheridies. She then travels to Coruscant with Master Thon to plead on the Jedi's behalf.

The Republic Senate is reluctant at first to help, considering the matter a problem for the Jedi only. But while the debate takes place, a new element enters the picture -- Setal and Aleema Keto, two bored aristocrats from the Empress Teta System. They have formed a secret society called the Krath and are in search of knowledge about the Dark Side. As Setal and Aleema steal Sith artefacts from the Galactic Museum of Coruscant, the Senate is finally swayed by the arguments of Thon and Nomi. Nomi is sent to lead a Republic fleet to Onderon to wipe out the Darksiders. As the battle begins, the Keto’s race right through the fleet, ignoring their warnings and dodging rocket-jumper troops. Making their way to the Darksider headquarters, they receive aid and instruction from Nadd and Ommin.

The Jedi / Republic force faces not only Dark Side soldiers but strange war droids that radiate the Dark Side. But when they unite with Ulic and his group, the army proves stronger. The Keto's escape (guided by Nadd) just as the massed Jedi enter the subterranean headquarters, killing Ommin and freeing Arca. But Nadd reveals that everything that has happened was planned by him -- and the Jedi have not won, but are about to lose. The Jedi take the bodies of Nadd, Ommin and Amanoa to Onderon's moon of Dxun to free the planet of the Dark Side forever, unaware of the Keto's escape and plans...

With the Republic distracted by the crisis on Onderon and other border wars with expansionist species, Provisional Governor Myrial of Argazda declares the Kanz sector independent, and quickly annexes and subjugates all worlds in the sector (including Lorrd). The Lorrdians masters, the Argazdans, forbade them to communicate with each other. This could have destroyed their culture within a couple of generations. Instead, the Lorrdians adapted. They devised an extremely intricate language of subtle hand gestures, body postures and subtle facial tics and expressions. Lorrdians also leaned how to interpret the body language of others. This was vital to survival during their enslavement – by learning how to interpret the body postures, gestures and vocal intonations of their masters, they could learn how to respond to situations and survive. They maintained their cultural identity in the face of adversity.

-3,997 BSW4

The Krath -- a secret society of Darksiders founded by Setal and Aleema Keto -- lead a political coup in the Empress Teta system. Setal and Aleema unintentionally stumble upon the use of carbonite for life suspension -- a fact they cruelly use upon their own parents. Everyone who opposes them is subjected to hideous deaths via Sith magic. The Jedi gear up to free the Tetan system. While studying Sith artefacts to find a clue, Ulic Qel-Droma suddenly receives a vision of Freedon Nadd... "The Sith are destined to rise again. Nothing can prevent that. YOU will be one of the great ones -- and there is another even greater than you..."

Leading a Republic force to protect Koros Major, last free world of the Tetan system, Ulic and Nomi are resoundingly defeated by the Krath ships -- and Setal and Aleema's evil magic. An unprecedented assembly of ten thousand Jedi occurs at Mount Meru on Deneba to discuss the problem. Ulic Qel-Droma advises infiltrating the Krath to learn their dark secrets, but is advised against it by fellow Jedi. A sudden attack by Krath war droids devastates the Jedi ranks -- and Master Arca is brutally murdered in front of Ulic. A grief-stricken Ulic blames himself for Arca’s death. Ignoring the warnings of Nomi and Masters Ood Bnar and Odan-Urr, he attempts an infiltration on Cinnagar, capital of the Teta system. Just as a Tetan-led assassin group is actually about to kill the Keto’s, Ulic is forced to move in and kill them. But Setal and Aleema are prepared for him -- the trap was arranged by them. Infecting him with Sith poison, Aleema seduces Ulic and begins corrupting him.

Meanwhile, Exar Kun -- an angry and reckless student of Vodo Siosk-Baas on Dantooine -- finds his way to Dxun, where he is seduced into the Dark Side by Freedon Nadd. He continues on to Korriban, where Nadd forces him to either surrender totally to evil -- or die. He chooses evil. Kun establishes his base on Yavin IV, the old base of Naga Sadow, and forces the Massassi race to his will. When Nadd announces he wishes to be reborn into a new body, Kun uses his new power to subject Nadd to a second death -- but not before Nadd warns the Keto’s about Kun. Kun orders the Sith temples on Yavin augmented and increased. Finding Naga Sadow's spaceship, he begins studying Sith alchemy.
Fearing for Ulic -- a man she has come to love -- Nomi attempts to rescue him on Cinnagar. Even as Aleema works to darken him, Setal tries to kill him. Finally giving way to his anger, Ulic murders Setal and becomes evil. Nomi, Cay and Tott leave Ulic, realising he is lost to them. They plan another attempt. The Jedi Masters allow it, but say that if Ulic has chosen the Dark Side, he must bear the consequences. The Jedi learn this sad fact for themselves when Ulic attacks them. Just after they leave, Exar Kun attacks Ulic and Aleema. The spirit of the last Dark Lord of the Sith intervenes and tells them they must work together. He declares Kun the new Dark Lord of the Sith, with Qel-Droma his lieutenant.

Members of the Massassi race travel to nearby Yavin VIII in hopes of freeing their children, who have been trapped in the Golden Globe, a magical device created by Exar Kun. When the native Melodies indicate they are unable to help, the Massassi carve their story into the side of the Sistra mountains in the hope that someday, someone will free the children.

After three years of training under the Omwati Mistress Tannis, 16 - year old Alderaanian Jedi student Vici Ramunee has completed her lightsaber construction at the Jedi Praxeum (“learning center”) of Teya IV. But there is one more test she must face. Without any resources other than herself, she must make her way along a difficult path to the Cave of Truth -- where she will face “her most dangerous foe.” Her 10 - year old brother Veni tags along midway, holding her lightsaber. They run into Willm Lywin, a 600 year old Duinuogwuin guardian who will take her to the Cave. She makes her way in alone -- and faces her own corpse. And then finds a corusca gem that could finance her family. And then a puzzle room. Getting frustrated, she rages out at her unseen foe. But facing her reflection, she realises -- her most dangerous foe is herself. And with that realisation, she passes the test and becomes a Jedi.

Six months have passed since Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma fell to the Dark Side. The forces of Lord Mandalore attack the Empress Teta system. But when Ulic defeats Lord Mandalore one-on-one on the planet Harkul, the Mandalorian warriors become Qel-Droma's servants. Meanwhile, Exar Kun tries to recruit Jedi from Ossus, taking twenty of them (including Oss Wilum). He steals the Sith Holocron from Odan-Urr and murders him. At the shipyards of Foerost, the united Krath/Mandalore forces begin their invasion, gaining 300 Republic warships. Ulic vows to move on to Coruscant. Training the Jedi on Yavin IV, Kun refuses to aid him, saying he will go on alone if Qel-Droma fails.

The invasion begins, as Vodo, Nomi, and Cay organise the defence. Aleema abandons Ulic to be captured, using Lord Mandalore to replace him. Mandalore secretly intends to rescue Ulic. As Ulic stands trial before the Senate, Exar plans to wipe out all the Jedi Masters at once, using the corrupted Jedi. Kun breaks into the trial of Ulic, puts the Senate under a spell, murders both the Senate judge and Master Vodo, and takes Ulic with him. Mandalore informs Ulic of Aleema's treachery. While Nomi and Thon are able to stop Oss Wilum from murdering them, the corrupted students of Kun carry out a massacre of the Jedi Masters. Ulic sets Aleema up for death in a battle at Kemplex, a battle that results in the deaths of Aleema, three Jedi, and the creation of the Cron asteroid field. As the shock wave nears Ossus, the dark Jedi attack. Ood Bnar transforms himself into a giant tree to protect Jedi artefacts from Exar Kun. Cay desperately confronts Ulic -- who brutally slaughters his own brother. Only then does Ulic finally see what he's done -- and it's far too late. Insane with grief and anger, Nomi inflicts the worst possible punishment on her former lover -- she strips him of the Force forever.

Physically and emotionally broken, Ulic vows to do the one thing left that will give his life meaning - he will take Exar Kun down. As the Jedi escape, the shock wave hits Ossus, making the planet a wasteland. On Onderon, the Mandalorians attempt to retake the city, but are repulsed by Republic forces. When Lord Mandalore is killed, another warrior takes up the tradition... Ulic leads the Jedi to Yavin IV. Realising he can't win, Exar enacts a horrible means of survival -- he saps the Massassi of their life forces to trap his spirit in the temples.

"The Brotherhood of the Sith could have ruled the galaxy, could have squashed the doddering Republic and turned the other Jedi Knights into parlour magicians -- but I was betrayed."

Exar Kun

-3,996 BSW4

As a result of the Great Sith War, Jedi Knights discover bloodlines powerful in the Force in the House Pelagia in the Tapani Empire.

The planet Ession, the fourth in the Lucaya System of the future Corporate Sector, is settled.

Forty-five different Ropagu nations battle with each other over which was superior. The intervention of the Kalduu race saved the Ropagu from destroying not only themselves, but their planet as well. Since then, the largest conflict the Ropagu have engaged in is a series of philosophical and theoretical debates in which the loser is encouraged to find a better argument and return to the debate. The Ropagu are also excellent computer technicians, and can program nearly every programmable device in the galaxy.

-3,995 BSW4

Ulic Qel-Droma visits the now empty Massassi temples of Yavin IV; to see for himself the destruction he has helped cause. Forever lost to the Force and to himself, Ulic cannot hear the voice of Exar Kun's spirit crying out for help, and walks away in despair.

-3,987 BSW4

Still in hiding from the Republic and Jedi alike, an old-before-his-time Ulic Qel-Droma hires down-on-his-luck spacer Hoggon to take him somewhere remote to live out the rest of his life. Hoggon, unaware of Qel-Droma’s identity, takes him to Yavin IV. Haunted by the ghosts of the past, Ulic refuses that place.
On Ryloth, the Twi’lek homeworld, Tott Doneeta is badly burned protecting a defeated clan from a heat storm. He refuses treatment, because he has an appointment. Namely, the first convocation of the Jedi Knights in a decade, held by Nomi Sunrider at the partially - built Exis Station, built to replace Ossus. A bitter Sylvar is there, as is Master Thon -- and an impulsive, rebellious 13 - year old Vima Sunrider, who goes joyriding on an ion mining ship and is just barely saved from being sun-fried by the arriving Tott.

Ulic finally finds a home in the arctic wastes of Rhen Var, in some ancient ruins. Hoggon rushes back to Exis to watch the rest of the convocation. Sylvar, it seems, has neither forgotten nor forgiven the events of a decade before. Unable to take another mate, she loudly calls for the Jedi to hunt Ulic down. On Rhen Var, Ulic wanders, unable to find peace. When he falls accidentally into a crevasse, he is more than ready to die -- until the spirit of Master Arca appears and tells him he must live. Ulic pulls himself back out, but wonders -- what's he living for?

Tott and Sylvar go to Ryloth to help the clan rebuild, only to run into a clan dispute. A raging Sylvar stirs the people up, readies them for war -- and then Tott returns to announce he's negotiated a peace treaty. She storms off the planet. Vima gets ignored by Nomi one time too many. She stows away on Hoggon's ship, and convinces him to take her to Rhen Var. If her own mother won't train her to be a Jedi, she hopes the mysterious Ulic she's heard so much about will. It takes some serious convincing, but Ulic finally decides to take young Vima in and start training her. She sends word to a shocked Nomi of her plans.

Tott accompanies Sylvar to her home of Cathar. Her people welcome her as a hero, but all she sees is what she can't have. She realizes full well just how close to the Dark Side she is getting, but doesn't know how or where to find peace. Even a ritual blood hunt can't help her. She abandons the hunt when a scout brings word of Vima’s disappearance.

Vima’s training goes surprisingly well. Ulic teaches her everything he knows, and allows her to build her own lightsaber, then begins training her in lightsaber combat. She encourages a downcast Ulic to use what talents he does still have. They use their lightsabers to carve a mountain into sculptures of Andur and Arca.

Hoggon won’t be allowed to see Nomi to tell her where Vima is. But Sylvar will listen, and takes off with him for Rhen Var. With the convocation over and realizing how she has neglected her, Nomi sets out after Vima herself. She reaches the two first, and sees for herself how the two have helped each other -- Vima has become a full Jedi, and Ulic is a much happier and content man. Vima takes Nomi to see her ice sculpture... at which point Sylvar appears and attacks Ulic. Ulic won’t attack her, though. Sylvar can’t find it in herself to kill Ulic, and shuts down her lightsaber. At which point Hoggon shoots Ulic down in cold blood. He runs off cheering at killing the great Jedi criminal. All Nomi, Vima, and Sylvar can do is watch Ulic die... and fade away like a true Jedi Master. And if only in that, they find some comfort.