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16-04-2023, 05:55 PM
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In these times of uncertainty in a path forward, many question the factions that call for a return to the times gone by. Purists and Traditionalists are these factions, and despite being ones that are the very bedrock to this Empire, they are one of the least understood in our Academy. From this I took the inspiration not to exterminate, but to convert, those who believe these views to be outdated and pointless to our survival. As well as being my attempt to convert, it is also my addition to the history of the pureblood race and my ode to those who have gone before me.
Purebloods are a species draped in tradition, heritage and a social order. Tribal beginnings with different classes of purebloods are the foundation of the order of Sith within the Empire (Following the interbreeding of the Sith species and Dark Jedi). As such a hierarchy is practically bred into them, alongside a biological aptitude for aggression, ambition and a willingness to sacrifice others to secure their own power. Yet, they are one of the few species that still thinks in a way where the future of the family/house/followers are more important than the individual. This is not to say that they have a communal spirit to always benefit the Empire, rather each individual power block will work as a cohesive unit for it’s own benefit. It is what has created such factionalism within the Sith, and why civil war and feud are commonplace.
Within these family structures respect is of the utmost importance; love, affection and mollycoddling are weakness when used as excuses. A father should not be seen as a father (or mother, gender equality is very much common), but rather as the head of house and as their title. Respect is earned through blood, sweat and tears, and no other way. This does not mean purebloods are heartless, they do feel positive emotions, but one of the greatest desires is to see a child flourish, and in pureblood society (And the Sith as a whole) a child does this by suffering at their lord’s hand, to fuel their hatred and create a strength and deviousness that gives them the tools to exceed them. To exceed the existing legacy, as legacy and the strength of the family rivals the love any parent feels for their children or other relatives. This is why outcasts, failures and the weak are so looked down upon. Why those who lose face, very rarely regain it, because to break tradition and cast a shadow on your family, is a fate tantamount to the death of that family.
Having spoken on how important traditions are, I will address some of the most apparent ones here. Firstly, one of the most notable amongst all purebloods is the jewelry (most often made of iron, silver and gold) that they wear on their faces and adorning their hair, hands and neck (as well as other appendages). Harkening back to the days when jewelry was indicative of one’s rank within a tribe, it has somewhat evolved, to the point now where jewelry is used to highlight status, one's house, and achievements of note in their past. As an example, I bear the the ring of the heir to House Vipion, as well as my own personal facial piercings that represent my coming of age. As a rule of thumb, women often wear slimmer, more subtle, jewellry however this is not set in stone. What is set in stone though, is the importance of facial piercings, normally representative of a pureblood’s house, and coming of age, they are sealed using a form of Sith magic. Never to be removed and handled with great care, if a pureblood were to commit the most heinous of crimes against their family, they might have these tokens ripped from their face by force. The wounds would heal, the pureblood allowed their life, but the scars and lack of adornment would tell everyone that this pureblood was a traitor, a disgrace and socially they would have the rights of something less than a slave.
Secondly, the tradition of attire and lightsaber. The red lightsaber, alongside robes of black, deep red, dark purple and gold, have become closely associated with Sith. The robes are an embodiment of who the Sith are and what they aim to do, which is to intimidate, to cause fear and to dominate others. Brighter colours, such as pinks, yellows and greens, lose this effect and as an extension make the wearer appear weak. Any who wear these colour robes and those who encourage these colours, would be seen as an untrue Sith in the pureblood community. In regards to the red crystals, they are, in fact, non-naturally occurring. However, in the Sith occupied worlds, no naturally occurring crystals would form, and so synthetic crystals formed on planets strong with the dark side of the force were generated. Over time, this forced nature became tradition and is honoured to this day as a reminder of the Golden Age when the Sith Empire went through massive expansion on the back of Red Sith power. Finally there is their use of High Sith. A hieroglyphic based script that originates in the carvings and records of early Kissai shaman, it is an incredibly difficult and complex language. Within the Empire it is rarely used outside of circles of older pureblood houses, and in artifacts of transcripts taken in from the Ancient Sith. Spell tomes and history books are the last source of much of this language, though older houses pride on teaching it to their offspring before they learn Basic. It is a source of respect and a connection to a much revered past to speak High Sith, also allowing the user to be able to take information directly from sources of great power. It is a closely guarded language that is rarely found outside of pureblood families, though it is by no means unheard of to be known. With a command of High Sith, the understanding of the less ornate Common Sith can also be found.
The teaching of High Sith to offspring is not the only custom followed by the older families in the Empire. The burial of a family's dead in great catacomb tombs, carved with ornate iconography of those interred, is a symbol of the ever lasting dedication to respect and legacy as a custom born from the very nature of purebloods. Going so far as to scar the landscape and spend great resources to build a final resting place, as is the case for those found in the Valley of the Dark Lord, it is an obvious sign as to the great importance of this athanasia and how strongly this custom still holds. Even in more recent times, these tombs exist on Dromund Kaas, away from the traditional homes of the pureblood species. The tombs also highlight further facets again, the need for family to be buried together, the need that all be treated with the proper rites and that these tombs be maintained and expanded. Everything is geared towards the evolution of a large, cohesive, unit that values its past and legacy whilst working towards a greater future.
Earlier I spoke of the biological nature of purebloods, I will expand on this here. What most think of when they think pureblood is the red skin. The colour is nothing more than pure genetic chance on the early Massassi and Kissai, a characteristic that is strong, and has survived, but serves as a mark of purity, a signature of those who are the strongest and those who bred with the very earliest Dark Jedi to arrive on Korriban. Along with the bone spurs and face tendrils that mark a pureblood out -that can sometimes be used to indicate certain emotions-, and the red skin, the species as a whole is fairly noticeable to the eye. Yet, the biological purity runs deeper than the skin. Purebloods’ life spans much exceed that of other species. Humans and others, can expect a century at the most, if they live healthy lives. The strongest and oldest families of purebloods can live up to the reaches of 450 years. In the time 4 generations of old men has passed, a single pureblood could still have half a century left. Not only this, but the genetics of early ancestors are so attuned with the dark side, noted at times when in locations incredibly strong with the dark side a pureblood’s eyes will glow ,that force sensitivity is almost a given for every member of the family. In fact, for it to not be the case, is a source of great dishonor and shame to the inable and their kin. Disownership is incredibly likely.
This need to cut loose those considered weak or those who would bring shame, is part of what fuels the genetic predisposition to the disdain of other species. However it is often also a misrepresented facet of simple ignorant ‘xenophobia’. The truth is something more complex which I shall aim to enlighten on. The Empire was built on the expansion of land, and thereafter the subjugation of whatever species is found there. It is Sith way to do so, what we are taught in the Academy, and what we strive to emulate today. In times gone by, the peoples that have conquered are the Red Sith, and Humans, these have dominated politics and power within the Empire. Since the arrival on Dromund Kaas, this purity has become distilled, tainted by the expansion of rights for those I have not mentioned, those who were the conquered. And in that time we have seen rise to a rival ‘New Empire’, the destruction of countless Imperial holdings and the total defeat at the hands of Zakuul. To be strong and powerful is the only way for purebloods, and history has shown time and again that it is in only a pureblood’s, or perhaps human’s, hands that we are at our most powerful. This is not to say that all other species must be put in a collar and chains, a Twi’lek or Togruta who earns the title of Darth through scheming, force of will and political acumen alongside their hard work to expand the Empire through conquest, will have the respect of the pureblood families, they have earned it. But they do not have the same strength in their blood, evident from their past, which is why they must do more to show they deserve their place. Everything must have a place, even non-force sensitives have a part to play, serving as best they can and earning respect this way. The alien, then, belongs under foot, this is where they only ended up after the weakness of their own ancestors. Weakness which cannot be tolerated, for weakness is what lets us die.
A facet that makes purebloods so strong in fact, is their devotion to Sith magic, or Kizia. It is an ancient art, born from a time before the neater modern force techniques, and bears much resemblance to the tribals ways from where it was born. Similar to so many other practises within the pureblood species, it has not died out though. Instead, it has been made more powerful and more effective by those who study it. Chanting with basic meditation is used to focus oneself, before tradition ritualistic behaviour invokes the powers. These powers can be multiplied and strengthened with the use of more practitioners all channeling their combined efforts into a single lightning rod to direct them. A coven of strong Kizia users could destroy vast numbers of peoples and places, by simply willing it. This power, alongside the ancient roots Kizia has, is what makes it such a valuable tool for purebloods, one that they insist on keeping very much alive in a time when other sources wish it’s demise by ignorance in place of modern techniques.
I conclude this essay on the subject of the modern day. Of the now, and the future, as many seem to think that purity is not the path to be taken; or one that is backwards in its ideals. Sith purebloods, Red Sith or simply Sith; are the very founding of the Sith Order as we know it. The promotion of manipulative and domineering behaviour are traits bred in from the earliest Red Sith, traits promoted throughout the Empire. As well as the natural hierarchy and order being an offshoot of a caste-system that served the previous Sith Empire well, and in both times the most powerful have always been the purest families. No others have wielded power as effectively. Leading to why Sith politics is dominated by pureblood families, because they understand the need for tact and the pack mentality that can be lethal to those who break tradition, or leave themselves open to attack if not managed correctly. It is why a family that holds a traitor, or an order that harbours one, might be cast out entirely by the Empire. Because the Sith do not accept those who have broken, and will leap on any weak to devour them. The lack of acceptance, from lack of need, for other species still exists outside of the most conservative families, shown on Dromund Kaas where Aliens are required to have permits to live there freely. This is not blind ignorant rage, but a calculated move to keep the capital as pure as possible, a capital that did not see total annihilation by Zakuul, as this purity is what gives the current home of the Sith the strongest footing to work from. Purity is not about simply purging the galaxy of anything not of Sith blood, rather it is about identifying the strengths and weaknesses that exist within, and giving a social order that takes the greatest advantage of it. As well as staying true to the old ways, honouring the past and keeping with tradition as a method to better understand and control the future.
In these times of uncertainty in a path forward, many question the factions that call for a return to the times gone by. Purists and Traditionalists are these factions, and despite being ones that are the very bedrock to this Empire, they are one of the least understood in our Academy. From this I took the inspiration not to exterminate, but to convert, those who believe these views to be outdated and pointless to our survival. As well as being my attempt to convert, it is also my addition to the history of the pureblood race and my ode to those who have gone before me.
Purebloods are a species draped in tradition, heritage and a social order. Tribal beginnings with different classes of purebloods are the foundation of the order of Sith within the Empire (Following the interbreeding of the Sith species and Dark Jedi). As such a hierarchy is practically bred into them, alongside a biological aptitude for aggression, ambition and a willingness to sacrifice others to secure their own power. Yet, they are one of the few species that still thinks in a way where the future of the family/house/followers are more important than the individual. This is not to say that they have a communal spirit to always benefit the Empire, rather each individual power block will work as a cohesive unit for it’s own benefit. It is what has created such factionalism within the Sith, and why civil war and feud are commonplace.
Within these family structures respect is of the utmost importance; love, affection and mollycoddling are weakness when used as excuses. A father should not be seen as a father (or mother, gender equality is very much common), but rather as the head of house and as their title. Respect is earned through blood, sweat and tears, and no other way. This does not mean purebloods are heartless, they do feel positive emotions, but one of the greatest desires is to see a child flourish, and in pureblood society (And the Sith as a whole) a child does this by suffering at their lord’s hand, to fuel their hatred and create a strength and deviousness that gives them the tools to exceed them. To exceed the existing legacy, as legacy and the strength of the family rivals the love any parent feels for their children or other relatives. This is why outcasts, failures and the weak are so looked down upon. Why those who lose face, very rarely regain it, because to break tradition and cast a shadow on your family, is a fate tantamount to the death of that family.
Having spoken on how important traditions are, I will address some of the most apparent ones here. Firstly, one of the most notable amongst all purebloods is the jewelry (most often made of iron, silver and gold) that they wear on their faces and adorning their hair, hands and neck (as well as other appendages). Harkening back to the days when jewelry was indicative of one’s rank within a tribe, it has somewhat evolved, to the point now where jewelry is used to highlight status, one's house, and achievements of note in their past. As an example, I bear the the ring of the heir to House Vipion, as well as my own personal facial piercings that represent my coming of age. As a rule of thumb, women often wear slimmer, more subtle, jewellry however this is not set in stone. What is set in stone though, is the importance of facial piercings, normally representative of a pureblood’s house, and coming of age, they are sealed using a form of Sith magic. Never to be removed and handled with great care, if a pureblood were to commit the most heinous of crimes against their family, they might have these tokens ripped from their face by force. The wounds would heal, the pureblood allowed their life, but the scars and lack of adornment would tell everyone that this pureblood was a traitor, a disgrace and socially they would have the rights of something less than a slave.
Secondly, the tradition of attire and lightsaber. The red lightsaber, alongside robes of black, deep red, dark purple and gold, have become closely associated with Sith. The robes are an embodiment of who the Sith are and what they aim to do, which is to intimidate, to cause fear and to dominate others. Brighter colours, such as pinks, yellows and greens, lose this effect and as an extension make the wearer appear weak. Any who wear these colour robes and those who encourage these colours, would be seen as an untrue Sith in the pureblood community. In regards to the red crystals, they are, in fact, non-naturally occurring. However, in the Sith occupied worlds, no naturally occurring crystals would form, and so synthetic crystals formed on planets strong with the dark side of the force were generated. Over time, this forced nature became tradition and is honoured to this day as a reminder of the Golden Age when the Sith Empire went through massive expansion on the back of Red Sith power. Finally there is their use of High Sith. A hieroglyphic based script that originates in the carvings and records of early Kissai shaman, it is an incredibly difficult and complex language. Within the Empire it is rarely used outside of circles of older pureblood houses, and in artifacts of transcripts taken in from the Ancient Sith. Spell tomes and history books are the last source of much of this language, though older houses pride on teaching it to their offspring before they learn Basic. It is a source of respect and a connection to a much revered past to speak High Sith, also allowing the user to be able to take information directly from sources of great power. It is a closely guarded language that is rarely found outside of pureblood families, though it is by no means unheard of to be known. With a command of High Sith, the understanding of the less ornate Common Sith can also be found.
The teaching of High Sith to offspring is not the only custom followed by the older families in the Empire. The burial of a family's dead in great catacomb tombs, carved with ornate iconography of those interred, is a symbol of the ever lasting dedication to respect and legacy as a custom born from the very nature of purebloods. Going so far as to scar the landscape and spend great resources to build a final resting place, as is the case for those found in the Valley of the Dark Lord, it is an obvious sign as to the great importance of this athanasia and how strongly this custom still holds. Even in more recent times, these tombs exist on Dromund Kaas, away from the traditional homes of the pureblood species. The tombs also highlight further facets again, the need for family to be buried together, the need that all be treated with the proper rites and that these tombs be maintained and expanded. Everything is geared towards the evolution of a large, cohesive, unit that values its past and legacy whilst working towards a greater future.
Earlier I spoke of the biological nature of purebloods, I will expand on this here. What most think of when they think pureblood is the red skin. The colour is nothing more than pure genetic chance on the early Massassi and Kissai, a characteristic that is strong, and has survived, but serves as a mark of purity, a signature of those who are the strongest and those who bred with the very earliest Dark Jedi to arrive on Korriban. Along with the bone spurs and face tendrils that mark a pureblood out -that can sometimes be used to indicate certain emotions-, and the red skin, the species as a whole is fairly noticeable to the eye. Yet, the biological purity runs deeper than the skin. Purebloods’ life spans much exceed that of other species. Humans and others, can expect a century at the most, if they live healthy lives. The strongest and oldest families of purebloods can live up to the reaches of 450 years. In the time 4 generations of old men has passed, a single pureblood could still have half a century left. Not only this, but the genetics of early ancestors are so attuned with the dark side, noted at times when in locations incredibly strong with the dark side a pureblood’s eyes will glow ,that force sensitivity is almost a given for every member of the family. In fact, for it to not be the case, is a source of great dishonor and shame to the inable and their kin. Disownership is incredibly likely.
This need to cut loose those considered weak or those who would bring shame, is part of what fuels the genetic predisposition to the disdain of other species. However it is often also a misrepresented facet of simple ignorant ‘xenophobia’. The truth is something more complex which I shall aim to enlighten on. The Empire was built on the expansion of land, and thereafter the subjugation of whatever species is found there. It is Sith way to do so, what we are taught in the Academy, and what we strive to emulate today. In times gone by, the peoples that have conquered are the Red Sith, and Humans, these have dominated politics and power within the Empire. Since the arrival on Dromund Kaas, this purity has become distilled, tainted by the expansion of rights for those I have not mentioned, those who were the conquered. And in that time we have seen rise to a rival ‘New Empire’, the destruction of countless Imperial holdings and the total defeat at the hands of Zakuul. To be strong and powerful is the only way for purebloods, and history has shown time and again that it is in only a pureblood’s, or perhaps human’s, hands that we are at our most powerful. This is not to say that all other species must be put in a collar and chains, a Twi’lek or Togruta who earns the title of Darth through scheming, force of will and political acumen alongside their hard work to expand the Empire through conquest, will have the respect of the pureblood families, they have earned it. But they do not have the same strength in their blood, evident from their past, which is why they must do more to show they deserve their place. Everything must have a place, even non-force sensitives have a part to play, serving as best they can and earning respect this way. The alien, then, belongs under foot, this is where they only ended up after the weakness of their own ancestors. Weakness which cannot be tolerated, for weakness is what lets us die.
A facet that makes purebloods so strong in fact, is their devotion to Sith magic, or Kizia. It is an ancient art, born from a time before the neater modern force techniques, and bears much resemblance to the tribals ways from where it was born. Similar to so many other practises within the pureblood species, it has not died out though. Instead, it has been made more powerful and more effective by those who study it. Chanting with basic meditation is used to focus oneself, before tradition ritualistic behaviour invokes the powers. These powers can be multiplied and strengthened with the use of more practitioners all channeling their combined efforts into a single lightning rod to direct them. A coven of strong Kizia users could destroy vast numbers of peoples and places, by simply willing it. This power, alongside the ancient roots Kizia has, is what makes it such a valuable tool for purebloods, one that they insist on keeping very much alive in a time when other sources wish it’s demise by ignorance in place of modern techniques.
I conclude this essay on the subject of the modern day. Of the now, and the future, as many seem to think that purity is not the path to be taken; or one that is backwards in its ideals. Sith purebloods, Red Sith or simply Sith; are the very founding of the Sith Order as we know it. The promotion of manipulative and domineering behaviour are traits bred in from the earliest Red Sith, traits promoted throughout the Empire. As well as the natural hierarchy and order being an offshoot of a caste-system that served the previous Sith Empire well, and in both times the most powerful have always been the purest families. No others have wielded power as effectively. Leading to why Sith politics is dominated by pureblood families, because they understand the need for tact and the pack mentality that can be lethal to those who break tradition, or leave themselves open to attack if not managed correctly. It is why a family that holds a traitor, or an order that harbours one, might be cast out entirely by the Empire. Because the Sith do not accept those who have broken, and will leap on any weak to devour them. The lack of acceptance, from lack of need, for other species still exists outside of the most conservative families, shown on Dromund Kaas where Aliens are required to have permits to live there freely. This is not blind ignorant rage, but a calculated move to keep the capital as pure as possible, a capital that did not see total annihilation by Zakuul, as this purity is what gives the current home of the Sith the strongest footing to work from. Purity is not about simply purging the galaxy of anything not of Sith blood, rather it is about identifying the strengths and weaknesses that exist within, and giving a social order that takes the greatest advantage of it. As well as staying true to the old ways, honouring the past and keeping with tradition as a method to better understand and control the future.
