29-04-2023, 11:11 PM
((originally posted by Khatatas Ashana))
Introduction
A journal dedicated to record my studies on a large variety of fields from research on unconventional skills and practices to the mysteries of the force and the very nature of the dark side itself. Information I intend to store in a holocron of my own one day. But until that day, there will be the Book of Shadows and it's many volumes.
Expect me to cover topics and subjects such as zoology, toxicology, metallurgy and the practice of the arcane arts like kizia and alchemy but also plethora of philosophy, history, control and notes on unconventional lightsaber techniques.
If you are reading this journal one of few things have transpired. Either I am dead and you have claimed this tome for yourself, or I decided you were worthy enough to read my records and studies. In either of these cases, I expect you to pay close attention and commit everything to memory.
If I am still amongst the living however, and you have somehow managed to obtain the 'Book of Shadows' without my authorization, you best put it back where you found it and hope I remain unaware of your mistakes..
The Language to Power
From the most basic of Sith amulets to the fully enchanted sith weapons. Permanent alterations to create masks that could change your very species, to the creation of the mighty destructive Leviathans and even the mysterious Sith Poison. Sith alchemy can achieve many things to bend the living and non-living to the Alchemist their will. Permanently altering it's existence.
The conjuration of destructive blasts of pulsating dark side energy, inspiring fear through primal senses and connections, breaking, bending and enforcing your will over lesser beings to gain full control over their minds, to use the arcane energies to mend wounds, bind spirits, gaze into the future and many more fantastical results through spells and rituals. Sorcerer's can achieve many amazing things through the arcane arts of Kizia, it is your imagination that binds you, restricts you...
But to even grasp the basic principles of wielding such power, one must study two aspects first...
[columns]
First and foremost one must study and learn the ancient Sith tongue of 'High Sith'. Usually a language reserved to those of pure blood only, yet an exception can be made to those with the power and true dedication to these ancient arts. One must be able to pronounce it perfectly and fluently, understand it to it's very core, feel it throughout your body. In the ancient arts, words hold power. Remember that.
But... there is always more. one must not only be able to speak it, but they must be capable of reading it, writing, carving and engraving it on any material you can think of. I refer to the Kittât, or High Sith script to those currently ignorant of it's true calling. It would be worth it to practice calligraphy and similar skills.
To those thinking they could perform the arcane arts in any other language however, you are not incorrect, but. Those who stray from this, stray from old ways and thus should consider themselves heretical for even considering it, and if I discover you ever attempted this you best pray I will remain ignorant of your transgressions.
[nextcol]
[/columns]
Anima & Animus
The anima and the animus are the energies that express conscious thought. It was what gives living beings the ability to be self-aware, to think and to grow mentally, emotionally. The amount of anima or animus a being possesses is the deciding factor to it's sentience. Thus far I have stated them as one, and even though their purpose is the same I believe that it should be classified as two sperate entities. One for the female sex and one for the male sex. This concept ties in with aspects of psychology in which there are notable differences between the two.
Both men and woman possess the energies of both but in different quantities. Both variations could be classed in four stages. For the woman, the Anima, is categorised in stage 1: Genesis, it deals with the emergence with the individuals expression of desire. Stage 2: Allusion, this refers to the awareness on how others perceive the individual, and is meant to show a notable gap between external talents and the lack of internal qualities. Stage 3: Virtue, in this stage the individual seems to possess virtue by the perceiving others, even if only in dogmatic or esoteric ways. Do note that this sense of virtue is different for each culture, and thus can be seen as unvirtious to some. The fourt and final stage of development of the Anima is 'Wisdom'. This is when the Anima has been fully evolved and integrated with the Animus, which allows the individual to be perceived as their own person with select positive and negative traits.
For the man, the Animus is also divided into four stages yet they are notably different from thie Anima. Stage 1: Power, the first stage of the Animus deals with the physical prowess of the individual. Stage 2: Freedom, in the second stage of development for the Animus it deals with the concept of freedom of action. More specifically personal initiative, the capacity for planned action and the emotional choice of romance. Stage 3: Mind, it is the most important requirement in order to achieve complete integration in that it processes the mind and the capability to perform mentally challenging acts and force oneself to progress. And for the fourth and final stage of the Animus, the 'Guide', refers to the highest attainable level of mediation between the conscious and subconscious mind. The fourth manifestation of the Animus deals with the interaction of all the aforementioned stages of both the Anima and the Animus in order to guide the way for those who will come after them.
First. You must understand the differences between the refined and the raw forces. Whereas almost all force powers require someone to channel their emotions and allowing the spiritus to refine the energies released so that they can be used according to our will. This is something that requires little to no conscious thought to many dark side adepts. But. When wielding the arcane, one must force the spiritus to let the raw energies to flow throughout your body and mind, letting it's corruption spread and empower you. This brings many more risks as it poisons the mind and body with the dark side at a much faster rate than the refined energies do, but in return you wield something far greater. A fitting compromise for dark side adepts. Through practice and experimentation I have discovered two ways in which one can learn to open the gates of the spiritus to allow the unadulturated essence to flow freely.
[center]
The Runic Arts
The first and foremost application of Sith Alchemy, the art of inscribing Sith Runes and making a certain intent manifest to your will. Ever since ancient times long forgotten the Red Sith, the original Sith species incorporated symbols, sigils and runes within script, speech and movement. This in combination with Kizia created the Runic Arts.
[columns]
At its most basic level, a Sith Rune is a way of making a certain intent manifest in physical form using the dark side of the force, more specifically, the unadulturated power of the dark side. In theory any language or form of symbolism could be used to manifest your will, doing so in any other form than High and Ancient Sith however will bring down the wrath of true Alchemists across the Empire and beyond.
The Runic Arts are the building blocks for most, if not all Alchemical and Sorcerous practice. For it is through the creation of runes, sigils, symbols and circles that the reliquary of power that is an item, individual or ritual is being powered. It is the very driving force for techniques far superior. The most commonly seen and used rune is the 'Midwan' rune of power.
[nextcol]
[/columns]
Sith Runes may be crafted in a wide variety of ways. Carving them into stone. Engraving them into metal. Cutting them into flesh. Painting them on paper. Or even tattooing them on skin. Each of these are acceptable fashions in which the Runic Arts are presented, one thing to always be mindful of however. The better the shape of the rune, value of materials used and skill of the alchemist, the more spectacular the results will be. They could even offer mild protection against the force if made on or around your person, vehicle or even a building provided the construct is in line with the house of power...
Spoiler: OOC Information
Introduction
A journal dedicated to record my studies on a large variety of fields from research on unconventional skills and practices to the mysteries of the force and the very nature of the dark side itself. Information I intend to store in a holocron of my own one day. But until that day, there will be the Book of Shadows and it's many volumes.
Expect me to cover topics and subjects such as zoology, toxicology, metallurgy and the practice of the arcane arts like kizia and alchemy but also plethora of philosophy, history, control and notes on unconventional lightsaber techniques.
If you are reading this journal one of few things have transpired. Either I am dead and you have claimed this tome for yourself, or I decided you were worthy enough to read my records and studies. In either of these cases, I expect you to pay close attention and commit everything to memory.
If I am still amongst the living however, and you have somehow managed to obtain the 'Book of Shadows' without my authorization, you best put it back where you found it and hope I remain unaware of your mistakes..
The Language to Power
From the most basic of Sith amulets to the fully enchanted sith weapons. Permanent alterations to create masks that could change your very species, to the creation of the mighty destructive Leviathans and even the mysterious Sith Poison. Sith alchemy can achieve many things to bend the living and non-living to the Alchemist their will. Permanently altering it's existence.
The conjuration of destructive blasts of pulsating dark side energy, inspiring fear through primal senses and connections, breaking, bending and enforcing your will over lesser beings to gain full control over their minds, to use the arcane energies to mend wounds, bind spirits, gaze into the future and many more fantastical results through spells and rituals. Sorcerer's can achieve many amazing things through the arcane arts of Kizia, it is your imagination that binds you, restricts you...
But to even grasp the basic principles of wielding such power, one must study two aspects first...
[columns]
First and foremost one must study and learn the ancient Sith tongue of 'High Sith'. Usually a language reserved to those of pure blood only, yet an exception can be made to those with the power and true dedication to these ancient arts. One must be able to pronounce it perfectly and fluently, understand it to it's very core, feel it throughout your body. In the ancient arts, words hold power. Remember that.
But... there is always more. one must not only be able to speak it, but they must be capable of reading it, writing, carving and engraving it on any material you can think of. I refer to the Kittât, or High Sith script to those currently ignorant of it's true calling. It would be worth it to practice calligraphy and similar skills.
To those thinking they could perform the arcane arts in any other language however, you are not incorrect, but. Those who stray from this, stray from old ways and thus should consider themselves heretical for even considering it, and if I discover you ever attempted this you best pray I will remain ignorant of your transgressions.
[nextcol]
[/columns]
Influencing the Force
There are many ways in which the force is perceived. A tool for the Sith, an ally for the Jedi, a mystical power for those incapable of influencing it and so there are many more views on what it is. But, no matter how it is perceived there are countless of individuals trying to understand how it works through philosophy, science and who knows how many other methods. And with this I shall explain my view on it, as it is a critical piece of knowledge in order to influence it.
There are many ways in which the force is perceived. A tool for the Sith, an ally for the Jedi, a mystical power for those incapable of influencing it and so there are many more views on what it is. But, no matter how it is perceived there are countless of individuals trying to understand how it works through philosophy, science and who knows how many other methods. And with this I shall explain my view on it, as it is a critical piece of knowledge in order to influence it.
Primordial
The primordial refers to what is universally known as the cosmic force or the greater force. I however see it as something more primal. Something as ancient as time and space itself. It is what binds every aspect of the known and unknown universe together. Those capable of influencing the force, are in fact influencing the primordial. Force powers as we know it are all made possible through the energies of the primordial.
The primordial refers to what is universally known as the cosmic force or the greater force. I however see it as something more primal. Something as ancient as time and space itself. It is what binds every aspect of the known and unknown universe together. Those capable of influencing the force, are in fact influencing the primordial. Force powers as we know it are all made possible through the energies of the primordial.
Vitae
The vitae is one of the critical components and is the force that makes life possible. It grants life in any shape or form you can think of, plantlife, animals and sith purebloods to name but a few. An important thing to note is that the vitae gives life, nothing more, nothing less. It is not what gives us the ability of conscious and subconscious thought. On top of this, I also strongly believe that the vitae plays a critical part in the biological factor required to influence the force.
The vitae is one of the critical components and is the force that makes life possible. It grants life in any shape or form you can think of, plantlife, animals and sith purebloods to name but a few. An important thing to note is that the vitae gives life, nothing more, nothing less. It is not what gives us the ability of conscious and subconscious thought. On top of this, I also strongly believe that the vitae plays a critical part in the biological factor required to influence the force.
Anima & Animus
The anima and the animus are the energies that express conscious thought. It was what gives living beings the ability to be self-aware, to think and to grow mentally, emotionally. The amount of anima or animus a being possesses is the deciding factor to it's sentience. Thus far I have stated them as one, and even though their purpose is the same I believe that it should be classified as two sperate entities. One for the female sex and one for the male sex. This concept ties in with aspects of psychology in which there are notable differences between the two.
Both men and woman possess the energies of both but in different quantities. Both variations could be classed in four stages. For the woman, the Anima, is categorised in stage 1: Genesis, it deals with the emergence with the individuals expression of desire. Stage 2: Allusion, this refers to the awareness on how others perceive the individual, and is meant to show a notable gap between external talents and the lack of internal qualities. Stage 3: Virtue, in this stage the individual seems to possess virtue by the perceiving others, even if only in dogmatic or esoteric ways. Do note that this sense of virtue is different for each culture, and thus can be seen as unvirtious to some. The fourt and final stage of development of the Anima is 'Wisdom'. This is when the Anima has been fully evolved and integrated with the Animus, which allows the individual to be perceived as their own person with select positive and negative traits.
For the man, the Animus is also divided into four stages yet they are notably different from thie Anima. Stage 1: Power, the first stage of the Animus deals with the physical prowess of the individual. Stage 2: Freedom, in the second stage of development for the Animus it deals with the concept of freedom of action. More specifically personal initiative, the capacity for planned action and the emotional choice of romance. Stage 3: Mind, it is the most important requirement in order to achieve complete integration in that it processes the mind and the capability to perform mentally challenging acts and force oneself to progress. And for the fourth and final stage of the Animus, the 'Guide', refers to the highest attainable level of mediation between the conscious and subconscious mind. The fourth manifestation of the Animus deals with the interaction of all the aforementioned stages of both the Anima and the Animus in order to guide the way for those who will come after them.
Spiritus
The spiritus is the final factor, and potentially the most important one, that decided on wether someone has the potential to manipulate the primordial. Whereas the vitae works with the body and the anima and animus deal with the psyche, the spiritus deals with ones potential capabilities in the force. Whilst everyone possesses some capacity of spiritus, they require a set amount of such energies to act as the catalyst, as the focal point through which the individual can actively reach out and perform the wondrous feats known today.
The spiritus is the final factor, and potentially the most important one, that decided on wether someone has the potential to manipulate the primordial. Whereas the vitae works with the body and the anima and animus deal with the psyche, the spiritus deals with ones potential capabilities in the force. Whilst everyone possesses some capacity of spiritus, they require a set amount of such energies to act as the catalyst, as the focal point through which the individual can actively reach out and perform the wondrous feats known today.
The Channeling of Power
To use force powers akin to force lightning or even force speed is to refine your emotions, condense them and then channel them throughout your body to the location from which you use said powers, a method often referred to as 'Seething'. But. To use your arcane gifts you must first understand how to wield, how to channel a vastly different form of dark energies...
To use force powers akin to force lightning or even force speed is to refine your emotions, condense them and then channel them throughout your body to the location from which you use said powers, a method often referred to as 'Seething'. But. To use your arcane gifts you must first understand how to wield, how to channel a vastly different form of dark energies...
First. You must understand the differences between the refined and the raw forces. Whereas almost all force powers require someone to channel their emotions and allowing the spiritus to refine the energies released so that they can be used according to our will. This is something that requires little to no conscious thought to many dark side adepts. But. When wielding the arcane, one must force the spiritus to let the raw energies to flow throughout your body and mind, letting it's corruption spread and empower you. This brings many more risks as it poisons the mind and body with the dark side at a much faster rate than the refined energies do, but in return you wield something far greater. A fitting compromise for dark side adepts. Through practice and experimentation I have discovered two ways in which one can learn to open the gates of the spiritus to allow the unadulturated essence to flow freely.
Soti Asarsi
Soti Asarsi, or Purity of Body and Mind. This is a form of arcane channeling that uses external forces. To first learn this method one must be on the surface of a planet drowned on the dark side. One must relax their body, reach out with your bodily senses and connect with every physical aspect of the planet, then, when ready reach out through the force and into the primordial and follow the tune of the dark side. You will experience a symphony of dark forces, find it's strings, sync with it's tune and latch on to one or even multiple of said strings, follow it back to it's source. Now focus. Focus on the energies as it envelops your mind, allow it to corrupt you, don't fight back, not yet. Siphon from it's power, pull it in and then shut the gates. Contain the addicting forces inside of your body, release nothing. Keep it inside of you for as long as you possibly can before it will burn your body and mind from the inside out. Now. Release it. Repeat this process until it takes little effort, then, and only then, will you be capable of using the destructive forces of the arcane.
Soti Asarsi, or Purity of Body and Mind. This is a form of arcane channeling that uses external forces. To first learn this method one must be on the surface of a planet drowned on the dark side. One must relax their body, reach out with your bodily senses and connect with every physical aspect of the planet, then, when ready reach out through the force and into the primordial and follow the tune of the dark side. You will experience a symphony of dark forces, find it's strings, sync with it's tune and latch on to one or even multiple of said strings, follow it back to it's source. Now focus. Focus on the energies as it envelops your mind, allow it to corrupt you, don't fight back, not yet. Siphon from it's power, pull it in and then shut the gates. Contain the addicting forces inside of your body, release nothing. Keep it inside of you for as long as you possibly can before it will burn your body and mind from the inside out. Now. Release it. Repeat this process until it takes little effort, then, and only then, will you be capable of using the destructive forces of the arcane.
Ansi Niti
Ansi Niti, or Higher State. This form of arcane channeling uses internal forces. This method has no requirement in terms of location, it does however take much more time than the former method. To start this method, relax your body and focus your mind. Shut all of your bodily senses off and pull the anima & animus inside, internalise your psyche and focus. Begin to channel your emotions and contain them within a single path, use the strength of your anima and animus to direct it's flow through the gates of the spiritus, become aware on it's location. Let the refined energies build up inside the contained road you guide it through, force it to push the gate open a little more with each and every cycle. The gate will fight back, making it a slow process, but eventually it will give and shift with each push of your will. Once the gate is forced open, continue the cycle as the refined energies will slowly convert back into it's primal state. Now keep it within until it devours you from the inside out, then remove the containment field you made for it. Let it flow freely. Once you have used the raw power, the spiritus gate will close itself again, and you will have to repeat the process next time.
Ansi Niti, or Higher State. This form of arcane channeling uses internal forces. This method has no requirement in terms of location, it does however take much more time than the former method. To start this method, relax your body and focus your mind. Shut all of your bodily senses off and pull the anima & animus inside, internalise your psyche and focus. Begin to channel your emotions and contain them within a single path, use the strength of your anima and animus to direct it's flow through the gates of the spiritus, become aware on it's location. Let the refined energies build up inside the contained road you guide it through, force it to push the gate open a little more with each and every cycle. The gate will fight back, making it a slow process, but eventually it will give and shift with each push of your will. Once the gate is forced open, continue the cycle as the refined energies will slowly convert back into it's primal state. Now keep it within until it devours you from the inside out, then remove the containment field you made for it. Let it flow freely. Once you have used the raw power, the spiritus gate will close itself again, and you will have to repeat the process next time.
[center]
The Runic Arts
The first and foremost application of Sith Alchemy, the art of inscribing Sith Runes and making a certain intent manifest to your will. Ever since ancient times long forgotten the Red Sith, the original Sith species incorporated symbols, sigils and runes within script, speech and movement. This in combination with Kizia created the Runic Arts.
[columns]
At its most basic level, a Sith Rune is a way of making a certain intent manifest in physical form using the dark side of the force, more specifically, the unadulturated power of the dark side. In theory any language or form of symbolism could be used to manifest your will, doing so in any other form than High and Ancient Sith however will bring down the wrath of true Alchemists across the Empire and beyond.
The Runic Arts are the building blocks for most, if not all Alchemical and Sorcerous practice. For it is through the creation of runes, sigils, symbols and circles that the reliquary of power that is an item, individual or ritual is being powered. It is the very driving force for techniques far superior. The most commonly seen and used rune is the 'Midwan' rune of power.
[nextcol]
[/columns]
Sith Runes may be crafted in a wide variety of ways. Carving them into stone. Engraving them into metal. Cutting them into flesh. Painting them on paper. Or even tattooing them on skin. Each of these are acceptable fashions in which the Runic Arts are presented, one thing to always be mindful of however. The better the shape of the rune, value of materials used and skill of the alchemist, the more spectacular the results will be. They could even offer mild protection against the force if made on or around your person, vehicle or even a building provided the construct is in line with the house of power...