Post by Darth Kairos on Aug 1, 2015 11:11:52 GMT
There have been many great stories on New Sith Brotherhood, some of which have lasted months or even years and had a resounding effect on the site's metaplot. These are referenced often or provided essential justifications for many stories, character motivations, and events. In keeping with the Journal of the Whills, they will now be chronicled here.
The arcs on this list have, on the whole, lasted for a great deal of time, spreading across several missions to have long-felt effects on New Sith Brotherhood's story. Personal missions or galaxy segments that focus generally on a single character and their development are not included; missions or segments that involved multiple characters and changed the landscape of the Union (or the entire galaxy) are included.
Missions & galaxy segments are listed in recommended reading order, which is typically the order they were played out in.
The Fall of Lady Vidia and the Second Union Civil War
One of the most crucial plotlines in the site's entire history, the fall of Lady Vidia saw the death of the immortal Darth Xaos, the ravaging of Korriban, the Second Union Civil War, the ascension of Darth Lucifer to the throne of the Consul, and nearly cracked the Union down the middle in the months that followed. When Darth Xaos begun an illicit affair with Lady Rhaenona, his wife, Lady Vidia, soon discovered his actions, plotted his true death at the hands of Luke Skywalker, and staged a nearly-successful military coup to seize control of the Union. This was the first site-wide after we moved to Freeforums from one of our predecessor sites, Sith Dominion, and directly dealt with the in-character consequences of the circumstances of that move.
The Korriban Regency Crisis and the Treaty of New Alderaan
What began as a vitrolic insult ultimately became the site's longest continuously-running single plotline, spanning nearly three years. In the wake of the Battle of Korriban, the powerbase of Darth Exolus, the Emperor of the Sith species (hereafter 'Red Sith'), quickly eroded. Matters came to a head when he verbally savaged Darth Lucifer, the new Dark Lord, in a meeting of the Dark Council, prompting a savage beating and a declaration that Lucifer would challenge Exolus for the right to rule their people. What initially began as an apparent leadership spill grew slowly grew into an internal struggle that split the Union's Congress down the middle and seemed to threaten yet another Civil War less than a year after the second.
The Rule of One
Of all of the Brotherhood's many foes, none are as mysterious as the One Sith. The Brotherhood has encountered the group several times, and yet it knows next to nothing about its aims, its philosophies, or its strength. But in each encounter, it would appear the Brotherhood's victories have been Pyrrhic at best.
The arcs on this list have, on the whole, lasted for a great deal of time, spreading across several missions to have long-felt effects on New Sith Brotherhood's story. Personal missions or galaxy segments that focus generally on a single character and their development are not included; missions or segments that involved multiple characters and changed the landscape of the Union (or the entire galaxy) are included.
Missions & galaxy segments are listed in recommended reading order, which is typically the order they were played out in.
The Fall of Lady Vidia and the Second Union Civil War
One of the most crucial plotlines in the site's entire history, the fall of Lady Vidia saw the death of the immortal Darth Xaos, the ravaging of Korriban, the Second Union Civil War, the ascension of Darth Lucifer to the throne of the Consul, and nearly cracked the Union down the middle in the months that followed. When Darth Xaos begun an illicit affair with Lady Rhaenona, his wife, Lady Vidia, soon discovered his actions, plotted his true death at the hands of Luke Skywalker, and staged a nearly-successful military coup to seize control of the Union. This was the first site-wide after we moved to Freeforums from one of our predecessor sites, Sith Dominion, and directly dealt with the in-character consequences of the circumstances of that move.
- Power Plays Part One, the most lengthy site-wide to date, encompassed Lady Vidia ordering the Brotherhood to declare loyalty to her, the Brotherhood learning of Vidia's treachery, and the Battle of Korriban.
- Power Plays Part Two: The Battle of New Bethrezen covered the eponymous Battle of New Bethrezen, immediately following the events of the previous site-wide. A rag-tag alliance of the Brotherhood, Jaig Legion, and Brotherhood of Indepedent Traders protected New Bethrezen against Lady Vidia's forces in a conflict that claimed her life.
- The Funeral of Darth Xaos, some days after the Civil War, was when Darth Xaos' body was laid to rest. In a powerful ceremony, the ghost of Darth Xaos manifested and declared Darth Lucifer the new Dark Lord of the Sith. Xaos' resting place is often visited by members of the New Sith Brotherhood seeking guidance.
- Aftermath: Part One and Part Two dealt with the immediate political fallout of the Second Union Civil War. In Aftermath Part One, the Union suppressed the rebellion of the planet Lianna, which had fallen under the control of the remaining Sith'ar heretics and their leader, Marc Aion. In Aftermath Part Two, the Union rebuffed engaged a great Alliance fleet lead by Wedge Antilles and Boba Fett just outside of Union-controlled Hutt Space to cut off their devastating starfighter-raiding operations.
- The Last Bastion, and it's immediate sequel, Smashing the Hollow Bastion, covered the Union discovery of the rebuilt Maw Installation (previously rebuilt but thought again destroyed), home to Lady Vidia's remaining loyalist forces. A small Brotherhood team lead a strike force to secure the installation and deal with the remaining loyalists. In the course of this assault, the Brotherhood team discovered the personal diary of Lady Vidia, which chronicled her transformation into a vengeance-fueled tyrant and how she orchestrated the events of the Second Union Civil War. The contents of this diary were immediately discussed - and suppressed - by the Dark Council.
- The Death of Darth Xaos, published last of all, related the definitive circumstances of the titular Dark Lord's death. Using information secretly provided by Lady Vidia, Luke Skywalker traveled to the planet Vjun, where he dueled Darth Xaos and used an ancient Sith ritual to kill him for good. Told from the perspective of Luke Skywalker, it is the final cut of the events surrounded Xaos' death (which had undergone several variations) and offers a rare insight into the workings of the New Jedi Order in our metaplot.
The Korriban Regency Crisis and the Treaty of New Alderaan
What began as a vitrolic insult ultimately became the site's longest continuously-running single plotline, spanning nearly three years. In the wake of the Battle of Korriban, the powerbase of Darth Exolus, the Emperor of the Sith species (hereafter 'Red Sith'), quickly eroded. Matters came to a head when he verbally savaged Darth Lucifer, the new Dark Lord, in a meeting of the Dark Council, prompting a savage beating and a declaration that Lucifer would challenge Exolus for the right to rule their people. What initially began as an apparent leadership spill grew slowly grew into an internal struggle that split the Union's Congress down the middle and seemed to threaten yet another Civil War less than a year after the second.
- Infinite Hell Machine: Months before that fateful Dark Council meeting, shortly after the Second Union Civil War, the members of House Xaos received a distress call from Darth Exolus. Coming to his aid, they found themselves in an unlikely alliance with the Jedi - and with a man bearing the mantle of Revan, the last member of the ancient Revanites struggling to destroy Emperor Vitiate once and for all. Though a monumental battle ensued, it was only during the Regency Crisis that the consequences of an experiment by Vitiate became apparent...
- In a meeting of the Dark Council, the first since the Second Union Civil War, Darth Exolus overstepped his bounds, and a leadership challenge was issued. Darth Exolus departed New Bethrezen for Korriban, and hell was soon to follow.
- The Regency Crisis began in earnest only days later. Darths Exolus and Lucifer both attempted to sway the ruling clans of the Red Sith to their side - and found themselves contending with an unexpected third candidate, their mutual cousin Kaleval. Spanning many pages, the Regency Crisis took place primarily in two topics: the ancient City of Ur, and the Union-controlled Hermitage of Korriban. The former topic was where the majority of the political action took place, and where matters pertaining directly to Darth Exolus were conducted. The latter, save for an ill-fated attack by Darth Exolus and his mother, was where matters relating directly to Darth Lucifer played out; typically, the other thread is linked to when the action changes location. After intense debate, a prophecy delivered by an ancient Sith spirit, and several attempted assassinations, a ghost of the species' ancient past brought about an unexpected resolution to the debate. While the Regency Crisis was settled for now, the dust was far from settled...
- In a meeting of the Galactic Liberation Party congress, several months later, Darth Exolus presented the pro-independence terms that had been internally agreed upon by the Clans after fierce internal debate between the two men and their supporters. Demanding his people's complete separation from the Union and the removal of the Union from historically Red Sith territory, Darth Exolus' terms were initially met with equal parts scorn and compassion by the divided GLP Congress. However, when Darth Exolus declared his intention to open the Red Sith's borders to the Jedi and Galactic Alliance, chaos erupted, and another assassination attempt was made...
- In the wake of Darth Exolus' disastrous declaration, the Union and Clans moved quickly to resolve the matter. At the suggestion of Darth Ares, the Union and Red Sith gathered on New Alderaan to discuss the terms. To the surprise of all sides present, it was the Dark Lord who found a solution favourable to all sides, and the Treaty of New Alderaan seemed, finally, to lay the matter to rest.
- Dark Star Rising: An alternate perspective on the events before, during, and after the signing of the Treaty of New Alderaan. Many oddities surrounded the events of the Treaty, and its seeming true architect remains in the shadows...
- The final resolution of the long-running Sithese political plotline began with in an unlikely place: Darth Exolus was convicted of heresy and sentenced to exile in the Malachor system. Initially a grave blow to the Sith Lord's haggard reputation, the end of his exile instead brought about the beginning of a new era...
- A Bittersweet Homecoming: The Red Sith's past returned to haunt Korriban, and Darth Exolus was freed by one of his few remaining allies to banish it alone. In the wake of the great battle, the Co-Regents saw eye-to-eye for the first time in years, and the respect between them was restored. In a great show of humility, Darth Lucifer relinquished his claims to the Red Sith Throne, leaving Exolus the sole Emperor of the Sith Species once more. Demonstrating his newfound wisdom, Exolus immediately appointed Lucifer the War Minister of the Sith Empire. With both men united, the future finally seemed brighter for the Red Sith people.
The Rule of One
Of all of the Brotherhood's many foes, none are as mysterious as the One Sith. The Brotherhood has encountered the group several times, and yet it knows next to nothing about its aims, its philosophies, or its strength. But in each encounter, it would appear the Brotherhood's victories have been Pyrrhic at best.
- One: Investigating the silence of a covert Union outpost on Utapau, Darth Ares and Lady Loon soon found that their search yielded far more alarming answers than they could have possibly predicted. Though both escaped and even slew two of their new foes, this was only the first of many and greater troubles the Brotherhood was to face.
- When a Regency conflict between Darths Exolus and Lucifer rocked Korriban's native Red Sith civilisation, the two found themselves beset by assassins in the dead of night. After brutal combat, the Brotherhood Sith emerged alive - though few of the soldiers that had fought alongside them did as well. The One Sith's attempts at manipulation were felt throughout the rest of the Crisis, but when Korriban's past returned to haunt it, it was a trio of One who appeared to aid the Brotherhood Sith in their time of need. And unbeknownst to all, a Dark Lord long sleeping had awoken...
- Seeking private retreat on New Alderaan, Darth Ares was drawn to a remote northern settlement by tremors in the Force. There he found dead bodies, a destroyed village, and a member of the One Sith far more powerful than he. The Brotherhood Sith Lord lost the grueling, brutal battle - but by manifesting the power of an ancient Sith artifact succeeded in destroying his opponent. The cost should have been his own life - but rescue and healing came in the unlikely form of the Jedi Knights, and the Sith Lord returned the favour with information on the new Sith presence in the galaxy.
- Holocron Hunt: While searching for a long-lost Sith holocron, Darth Athor unknowingly found himself in the company of a mysterious but powerful man. The Holocron was located, and when his companion revealed his true nature as one of the One, he made the Assassin an offer: to join his group. Darth Athor accepted.
- Holocron Hunt II: Heresy Heard (continued here): Inducted into the One Sith, Athor began his training in the ways of a different breed of Sith. Under the tutelage of one of their masters, Athor learned the customs and beliefs of this shadowy group, and ultimately came face to face with their Dark Lord. Though his abilities rapidly grew in his time with the One, Athor came to disagree with their beliefs - and, when the Jedi launched an attack on the formerly-secretive group, Athor made his escape, bringing to the Brotherhood the invaluable information he had gained. The Sith Assassin's fate for his apparent betrayal of the Brotherhood would later be decided in a meeting of the Dark Council.