For this month's review, since it's the first, I will start from the beginning. The story takes place one thousand years before the first Death Star was destroyed.
The galaxy is in the midst of the Jedi Sith war. This story centers around a young man named Des. Des lives on the planet of Apatros. He has worked his whole life in the Cortosis mines. Cortosis is a hard metal that rivals the lightsaber in strength. Des lived with his father, Hurst til he died of a heart attack, which later is found out to have been caused by Des's latent Force abilities.
In the time since the death of Hurst, Des was paying off his debt to the mine company. He was attacked by a man working his spot in the mine, and beat him severely. That night he wins a large amount of money off of the soldiers that frequent the local cantina. He leaves and is attacked by three soldiers, he kills one. Des must leave Apatros. Des joins the Sith army, and leaves for the galactic Sith/Jedi war.
Des is a wonderful leader, a fierce warrior, and naturally gifted with the Force. He is taken to Lord Kopecz, a Twi'lek Sith Lord, who deems him a student at the Sith academy on Korriban. They believe he is the Sith'ari, a chosen one.
\"Do you wish to choose a name for yourself, Des?\" Kopecz asked, possibly sensing his reluctance. \"Do you wish to be reborn?\"
Des nodded.
Kopecz smiled once more. \"And by what name shall we call you now?\"
The fear would stop him; he would seize the fear, transform it, and make it his own. He would take what had once made him weak and use it to make himself strong.
\"My name is Bane. Bane of the Sith.\"
Des was no more. In his place was Bane. The name Hurst used to taunt him would bring fear to the galaxy.
In the first few months of his training on Korriban, Bane is progressing fast. He has learned to increase his stamina, and has chosen form IV Djem So as his fighting style.
His power grows, and he begins to be ahead of the pack, and then all comes to ruin. Ultra sure of his abilities he challenges Sirak, the best student at the academy.
His defeat is great, and his connection to the Force is weakened. The teachers refuse to help, and he is left alone. He begins to read the lore of the ancient Sith. Their tomes teach him of things long forgotten. He is reconnecting to the Dark Side. In the day he consumes all the knowledge of the ancient Sith, and at night he is training with the weapons master, Kas'im. He is becoming a great Sith. But he is not unnoticed. Githany, a Jedi who has defected to the Sith, is ever watchful of Bane. She goes to him, and establishes a partnership. If he will teach her the old ways, she will teach him what he is not being taught.
The partnership prospers, and both become powerful, but Bane is still progressing with each day. He again challenges Sirak. Bane toys with Sirak, and regains his status in the academy. But he cannot kill Sirak, and Githany sees this as weakness.
With his renewed status the Sith Lords tell Bane he must end his times with Githany, and abandon his time in the archives. In a rift, he leaves the temple and goes in search of wisdom in the Valley of the Dark Lords.
Githany goes to Sirak making a deal to end Bane's life when he returns.
Lord Kaan is the leader of the Sith forces, and he is in a losing battle on the Planet of Ruusan. When he hears of Bane and the academy he is furious.
While on his adventure Bane's Force powers are pushed to the limit. He faces many trials, and through them is enlightened. he sees the error of the Sith Order, and feels that the ancients have abandoned them in shame. On his return he knows what must be done. The Sith Order has become corrupt, and all who oppose him must die.
Githany, Sirak and two other Zabrak attack Bane. Bane knows that Githany will not betray him, and they kill the trio.
Bane confronts Lord Qordis, and tells him he is Darth Bane, Dark Lord of the Sith and he serves no one.
Lord Hoth is the leader of the Army of Light, and has been fighting this war far too long. He is tired and wants peace, but the Sith must be destroyed. He edges ever closer to the Dark Side, and it is taking its toll on him.
Bane has made his way to the Unknown World, Lehon. As soon as Bane touches ground he feels the power of the Dark Side. He touches the mind of a Rancor, and rides it to a stone pyramid in the heart of the jungle. In the lowest level he sees a shining glyph on one of the walls. He touches it with the Force and opens a hidden compartment. Inside is a Sith holocron. It belonged to Darth Revan. With this holocron Bane extends his knowledge of the ancient Sith to levels never imagined.
Githany has a vision on Ruusan. She goes to Lord Kaan and tells him Bane is on his way to destroy them. Kaan goes to Kas'im, the weapons master who taught Bane, and sends him to destroy his former pupil.
\"Those who use the dark side are also bound to serve it. To understand this is to understand the underlying philosophy of the Sith. The dark side offers power for power's sake. You must crave it. Covet it. You must seek power above all else, with no reservation or hesitation. The Force will change you. It will transform you. Some fear this change. The teachings of the Jedi are focused on fighting and controlling this transformation. That is why those who serve the light are limited in what they can accomplish. True power can come only to those who embrace the transformation. There can be no compromise. Mercy, compassion, loyalty: all these things will prevent you from claiming what is rightfully yours. Those who follow the dark side must cast aside these conceits. Those who do not - those who try to walk the path of moderation - will fail, dragged down by their own weakness.\"
While Bane contemplates his newly learned skills, he has an epiphany. The Sith can only be as strong as its leader, and weak apprentices do not deserve to wield power. Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody the power, the other to crave it. The Rule of Two.
Kas'im has arrived on Lehon, and has tracked Bane to the temple of Rakata. Their duel is an epic one. Teacher against student and the battles rages. In the end Bane brings the pyramid down on Kas'im with the Force. On his return, he contemplates how he will bring down the Brotherhood. He plans on using a Sith's greatest weapons: deception and betrayal.
On Ruusan the battles is going well. The Sith are slaughtering Jedi with each passing day. Lord Kaan is still not satisfied, and craves a new source of power.
While in battle Lord Hoth loses his friend and advisor Pernicar. He becomes unstoppable in his fury and kills several Sith. He is confronted after the battle by Valenthyne Farfalla. \"This war has consumed you. Driven you to madness. Madness that will lead you to the dark side!\"
Bane sends Lord Kaan a message drone, inside are sheets detailing a new and powerful weapon. The answer to his problems. It is called a thought bomb, and it will take the required skill of all Sith on Ruusan.
Lord Kaan sends Githany to Ambria to meet with Bane. She intends to finally kill him once and for all. She uses a poison, which she transfers with a kiss. If Bane weren't so powerful with the Force, she would have succeeded. He stumbles upon a family in a land crawler. He leaves his lightsaber on the ground, when one of the children picks it up, he ignites it killing him. Bane draws power from the suffering, and kills the rest of the family. Those weak enough to beg for mercy don't deserve it.
He takes the crawler and travels to get the help of a healer named Caleb. Bane threatens to kill the mans daughter, and he helps him recover from the poison.
Bane travels to Ruusan and confronts Kaan for having him poisoned. He offers to help defeat the Jedi. He shows them how to use the thought bomb, but doesn't tell them it will kill all Force sensitives on the planet. He bids them to enter a series of catacombs, so the Jedi cannot find them. When the ritual begins, Darth Bane makes his escape.
On his trek, he stumbles across a small girl crying. At her side are two Jedi, their necks twisted at odd angles. The Jedi had killed her brother by mistake, and he lost her temper. He takes the girl, in hopes that she will be his new apprentice.
Topic Author
Amazing work! Thank you both Br.Dans. Thumbs up for the both of you. Very true, this book shows a very human side to the Sith Mythology. This allows the reader to enter a Sith`s personal story and understand. Thank you both.
