#sithtinitate

[mindscapeartist]

Inception, 11

“I do not believe the Jedi can give me what I seek,” the young woman concluded.

Verrin agreed, "No... they cannot.  Or more accurately, they will not."

He sipped coffee before going on. "The Jedi focus on suppressing emotion, and 'doing good' - whatever shape that good comes in.  They also contradict themselves, quite a bit. They strive for freedoms, but suppress freedom of thought and emotion in themselves. They struggle to be good, but they fight and kill as much as anyone in the galaxy... in the name of stamping out 'evil'. And they fight for an ideal known as peace, even if it's a lie. Finally, they almost never take on full-grown adult Force users, because they believe they can only control their people by obtaining them when they are young - and forcing them into some kind of mold based on outdated principles. It's sad, really. And yet, if you believe all the propaganda around them, they are our galaxy's saviors."

Verrin's tone remained fairly neutral throughout the description, likely another sign that peace was a lie.

"I won't say the Sith are perfect, because they aren't. They also aren't exactly prospering right now - I don't know if you follow galactic news at all, but they were allied with the Empire, which was defeated at Dromund Kaas this past year. Many of them perished in the Jedi's righteousness, and the Republics rebellion. Some of the fundamental philosophies of the Sith are singled out, taken out of context, and then emphasized to extreme. Should you pursue this path, you'll read quite a bit about it - Sith whose hubris got the better of them.  But a point to be made is that the reason for that hubris is power.  The Sith pursue power, for one reason or another. And when one obtains enough of it, one can often feel like a god among sentients. One can feel untouchable... unstoppable... omniscient... omnipotent.  But I assure you, and you would do well to remember this, that no matter how powerful one becomes, there is always more power to obtain, and someone looking up towards you... wanting to take your power for themselves.

Power can come from many places - political power, wealth, influence, charisma.  It can be raw strength, endurance, a connection to the Force, or an inexplicable combination of genetics that grant near-superhuman abilities. Evolutionally speaking, early mankind could look upon you, right this minute, and see you as a god - walking upright, speaking in words they don't understand, and performing feats they can't imagine - song, dance, even basic math.  That is how many of the current race look upon Force users - they see them as further along in evolution than they are. It sparks fear and awe... admiration... sometimes hatred."

He took a moment to drain a significant portion of his coffee. Then he apologized, "I've been told I talk too much, but try to bear with me for a few moments. I'm trying to summarize several years of information into a single cup of coffee."

"One thing we should get straight right off the bat, involves the Force. The Force is everywhere, in all things.  Scientifically speaking, it flows between the atoms in all matter, and thus is present in everyone to some degree. But only a few are able to tap into it - to manipulate the Force directly. You will also hear of the Light Side and Dark Side of the Force. The Jedi came up with those terms to describe how the Force is manipulated. If it's used for 'good' - protection, healing tissue, easing the mind, then it's 'Light'.  If it's destructive, aggressive, or otherwise harmful, they called it 'Dark'. While it would be a lie to say those differences do not exist, it would also be folly to call them 'good' or 'evil'. The galaxy at large saw the Empire as 'evil', for instance.  The Empire sought to bring law and order where there was chaos.  But part of having those things meant that some freedoms were sacrificed - chaos was not allowed to reign. Is that evil? I don't think so, but apparently many people did.  My point, I suppose, is that you will hear 'good' and 'evil' bandied about when the Force is described.  It is neither.  It merely is."

He broke long enough to drain his cup.

"As I mentioned, the Sith philosophy is based around power. A long, long time ago, before there was a recognized group known as the Sith, there was the Jedi. A number of them disagreed with the main group's philosophy on power, and how to use it, and the principles of what is 'good' or 'evil'. They splintered off and created their own group, and their own code. They also interbred with a species known as 'the Sith' - they are called 'purebloods' today.  Come to think of it, I only know one such pureblood at the moment, but I'm sure others exist. That race of Sith had a genetic marker that made them particularly sensitive to the Force, and the belief was that by breeding with them, those ex-Jedi could create a more powerful group of Force Sensitives.  They took on the name of the race - the Sith - and wrote their own doctrine and code. In the language of the Sith it is called, 'Qotsisajak', and was written by Sorzus Syn:

Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me.

You will do very well to learn those words, Miss Tsintah, and to contemplate on their meaning to you. If you intend to study the ways of the Sith, that code will guide you throughout.  Everything you seek can be funneled back into that basic mantra. The way of the galaxy - nay, the universe - is in that Code.

For example - you have heard that knowledge is power. If that is true, then through knowledge, you will acquire victory. If that's also true, then strength is found in learning - not just reading, but learning. What is learning? To some, it is done though reading, or watching holovids.  For others, it is learning a martial art, or a fencing technique. For others still, it is learning more proficiency in firing a weapon, or controlling the Force. You see - nearly everything in life can be brought back to the Code. It is a compilation of fundamental truths."

Maggie came by and collected her master's cup, but also offered to refill Kai's water, or treat her to some other beverage. Her master could talk quite a while, if allowed to, and Kai might get thirsty again.

Meanwhile, Verrin leaned forward in his seat, and gave Kai an intense look of concern. "I won't try to deny you your goal - your revenge. Many people go to the Sith to do just what you're after - acquire enough power to exact their revenge upon those who wronged them.  But I want to put a thought in the back of your mind - something to give perspective.

When you've acquired the power you need, and you've flown off to get your revenge... when you've slain all those who wronged you... what will you do then?  What are your goals beyond their deaths?"