For thousands of years, the Jedi Order acted as guardians of the Old Republic, protecting
them as they expanded beyond the core worlds, growing into the most powerful superpower
in the galaxy.
Adhering to a strict light side philosophy, the Jedi believed serenity and emotionless
detachment were the paths to understanding and wielding the force, a primordial cosmic
energy flowing through all living things which could be harnessed by those born sensitive
to its presence and used to accomplish extraordinary feats.
Although other force wielding organizations emerged throughout the galaxy, few were as
accomplished or wide-spread as the Jedi Order, who successfully defended the Republic and
kept the peace for millennia, encouraging their continued focus on light side training.
Yet it was this same, narrow minded exclusivity that brought about the greatest threats faced
by the Old Republic, starting wars which killed countless innocent civilians, destroyed entire
worlds, and nearly brought about the collapse of their government on more then one occasion.
While many throughout the galaxy disagreed with their light side interpretation of the
force, the greatest opposition came from within the order itself, as disillusioned Jedi sought
new ways of expanding their powers, wanting to break free from the rigid monotony present
since their founding.
Though their predecessors in the Je’daii order of Tython sought balance in the force,
a terrible war fractured their unity, as some choose the light side and others the dark,
until they at last clashed in a devastating civil war, over 25 000 years before the battle
of yavin.
Emerging victorious, those who followed the light side reformed the organization as the
Jedi Order, moving to the world of Ossus where they established an alliance with the Galactic
Republic.
Yet the division and conflict from which the Order was birthed, never truly departed, and
only a few centuries later in 24,500 BBY they suffered their first great schism, when Jedi
Knight Xendor and his partner Arden Lyn founded the individualist and open minded Legions
of Lettow, where member’s were encouraged to study varying force philosophies, including
those dedicated to the dark side.
Believing that a group training students in the dark side was a threat to galactic security,
and seeing so many of their people leaving to follow Xendor, the Jedi High Council was
unwilling to allow this splinter organization to flourish, inevitably resulting in war and
the eventual defeat of the Legions.
Having eliminated their rivals, the Jedi rose to prominence and became the most influential
force wielders in the galaxy, reigning largely unmatched for thousands of years, until yet
another fracture within the order nearly brought about their downfall.
Throughout the Subterra period from 8000-7000 BBY, the Old Republic greatly expanded their
holdings, ruling over planets as far as the outer rim.
Yet the central government was unable to maintain the same level of control and prosperity present
in the core worlds, which over time promoted lawlessness and lessened the authority of
Coruscant, their capital.
With the Republic’s influence waning and the Order grown stale, unwilling to progress
beyond their self imposed limitations, a new wave of creativity and innovation swept through
the organization, with some of their most prominent and powerful Jedi seeking new ways
of understanding the force.
Experimenting with Dark Side abilities and alchemy, these Jedi found they were capable
of achieving so much more then their traditional teachings suggested, including the manipulation
of life itself, transforming animals into monsters, mutant warriors and mounts.
Fearing these forays into the dark side, the Jedi Council condemned their actions, and
forbid the continued use of these techniques.
Unwilling to abandon this exciting new direction with seemingly limitless potential, the Dark
Jedi, as they became known, left the Order in 7003 BBY, considering themselves the heirs
to Xendor’s bold heresy many years earlier.
Similar to what occurred in the past, this Second Great Schism inevitably led to war
in 7000 BBY, but this time the conflict endured for a century, known as the Hundred-Year Darkness.
Led by the High General Ajunta Pall, the Dark Jedi were vastly outnumbered and outmatched
but nonetheless stood their ground and waged and devastating long-term war, using their
new dark side abilities to make up for their lack of manpower and logistical support.
Serving under Ajunta Pall, some of the most prominent Dark Jedi leaders were XoXann, Marchioness
of their mighty Black Legion, fleet admiral Baron Remulus Dreypa, the great tactician
Karness Murr, and master alchemist Sorzus Syn.
Among the many creations Sorzus Syn unleashed upon the Jedi, there were Shamblers, Howlers,
Pit Horrors, and by the end of the war Spirit Devouring Leviathans, described as living
superweapons capable of swallowing the life energy of enemy soldiers to store in blister
traps on their backs.
Though the fighting went back and forth, like at the Battle of Fluwhaka where the Dark Jedi
were saved by Karness Murr’s battle tactics, or the Battle of Balmorra, which saw Leviathans
splinter Jedi Barricades, the rebels were simply unable to withstand the overwhelming
might of the Order and their republic supporters.
Gradually pushing the enemy back, the rebels made their last stand at the Battle of Corbos,
where Ajunta Pall slew over a dozen Jedi before his capture and defeat.
Confident the threat was over, the High Council did not execute the 12 surviving Dark Jedi,
instead stripping them of arms and armour before exiling them from Republic Space, in
the hope they might reflect on their mistakes and in time return to the light side.
Though they did not realize it at the time, this singular act of mercy brought about vast
repercussions which would greatly impact galactic history.
Among those who survived and became known as the Exiles, there were the leaders Ajunta
Pall, XoXann, Remulus Dreypa, Karness Murr and Sorzus Syn, while the rest were lesser
Dark Jedi of relatively little importance.
Somewhat prepared for the journey ahead of them, Ajunta Pall spent years researching
rumours about a far away species devoted entirely to the Dark Side, and so directed their ship
to the Stygian Caldera nebula, where he believed they were located.
Though few were capable of navigating this area of space, he felt the pull of the dark
side leading him through, and succeeded in finding the planet of Korriban, populated
by a Pureblood Species who named themselves Sith.
Shocked and impressed by their Dark Side powers, the relatively primitive, tribal Sith welcomed
the Exiles, with some even believing them gods or demigods.
Fortunately for the former Jedi, the Dark Side Sith already had a strict caste system
which bred obedience, and a culture that respected and sought out powerful authoritarian leaders.
Seeking to make this planet their own, Ajunta Pall beheaded King Hakagram Graush and declared
himself blood heir of Adas, the legendary ruler who first conquered and united the Sith
of Korriban.
Taking the title Dark Lord, the other Exiles were named Shadow Hands and Lords of the Sith,
given position of great power and prominence in their society.
Though the Exiles greatly advanced Sith technology and civilization, they embraced the local
culture to create a new Sith Order and Empire.
Expanding beyond Korriban, they mapped the entire Stygian Caldera Nebula which protected
their region of space and discovered the Nache Bhelfia Hyperspace route, connecting Korriban,
Ziost, Khar Delba, Rhelg, and Krayiss, the five central worlds that made up their new
Sith empire.
Making Ziost their Throneworld and Korriban their Tombworld, the Exiles used alchemical
crossbreeding to intermix with the Sith, eventually combining them into a single species entirely
dedicated to the Dark Side of the Force.
Still consumed with a burning hatred for the Jedi, Remulus Dreypa gathered an army and
returned to Republic Space where he launched a failed attempt to destroy the Jedi Order,
thereby alerting them that the Exiles were still alive and possibly thriving somewhere
in unknown space.
Though Dreypa and his followers were eager to continue the war, the other Sith Lords
were content to remain in relative isolation, but never forgot about the Hundred Year Darkness,
passing down their deep hatred for the Jedi Order to subsequent generations, until nearly
2000 years later, when the Dark Lord Naga Sadow followed in Dreypa’s footsteps, by
leading their armies back to Republic space, where they launched the Great Hyperspace War
which devastated the galaxy.
Despite the Jedi once again emerging victorious, the consequences of the Second Great Schism
continued to wreak havoc for thousands of years to come, as the Sith could not be eradicated,
re-emerging time after time to wage war against their eternal enemies.