Darth Andeddu: An Overview
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"Knowledge is power and true Sith do not share power. I will give you nothing but your own death."
General Power & Knowledge
An account of Darth Andeddu states that he had lived for centuries, using the dark side to maintain his body well beyond his normal lifespan.
However, there was a small section that made a brief reference to a man named Darth Andeddu. Andeddu, the account claimed, had lived for centuries, using the dark side of the Force to extend his life and maintain his body well beyond its natural span.
―Dynasty of Evil
Andeddu was worshipped as a God-King by the people of Prakith, where he established a cult called the "Malevolence." A great temple was built in his honor.
The scroll was a religious proclamation declaring Darth Andeddu the Immortal and Eternal King over the entire world of Prakith. To commemorate the momentous event, the proclamation continued, a great temple would be built in his honor. Satisfied, Bane carefully rolled the scroll up and slid it back into the protective tube. Despite being only a few paragraphs scrawled across a single sheet of parchment, it had given him what he needed.
Andeddu's followers had built a temple in his honor on the Deep Core world of Prakith. There was no doubt in Bane's mind that this was where he would find the Dark Lord's Holocron. Unfortunately, he had to think of a way to acquire it that wouldn't raise Zannah's suspicions.
Andeddu's Holocron offered the promise of immortality; with it he could live long enough to find and train a new successor.
―Dynasty of Evil
It wasn't long before the stronghold itself came into view, a towering structure built on the flat plain of a valley hidden deep within the heart of the range. A four-sided, flat-topped pyramid chiseled from black obsidian, the two-hundred-meter tall building was part fortress and part monument to a self-proclaimed god. From the stories of the townspeople, Bane had learned that Andeddu had been worshiped as a deity during his long, long life before being overthrown. Yet even after his betrayal and death, a small cult of devoted followers believed his spirit still existed.
―Dynasty of Evil
According to ancient murals, during his life Andeddu unleashed his power against "armies," although this claim could be exaggerated.
Here at the heart of the pyramid Andeddu's followers had built a shrine to their Master. Glow lamps in each corner illuminated the room with their eerie green light. The walls were covered with murals depicting images of the God-King unleashing his power against the armies of those who opposed him, and a great stone sarcophagus lay in the center, its lid carved with a relief of the long-dead Sith Lord.
―Dynasty of Evil
From what we know, Andeddu's reign over Prakith came to an end when he was betrayed and overthrown by his own followers.
In the typical fashion of the Sith before Bane's reformations, Andeddu's reign came to a violent end when he was betrayed and overthrown by his own followers. Yet his Holocron, the repository of his greatest secrets-including the secret of near-eternal life-was never found.
―Dynasty of Evil
It is noted that there is evidence of a "final siege" due to the damage left on Andeddu's ancient keep.
―Star Wars: Legacy
Darth Andeddu was held in relatively high esteem by Darth Bane; when discussing the significance of the "Darth" title, which Bane notes is reserved only for those worthy, he includes Andeddu in a line of Sith including Darths Revan, Malak, Malgus and Ruin, leading to Bane himself. In contrast, he notes that the likes of Kaan and the Brotherhood were unworthy to bear such a title.
―Book of Sith
As of Dynasty of Evil, however, Darth Bane found very little useful from Andeddu's holocron, nothing he had not already heard before, and he claimed that he had grown beyond the likes of Andeddu.
For the past four days Bane had played the gatekeeper's games in an attempt to unlock the secrets of eternal life. He had delved deep into Andeddu's Holocron, accomplishing in less than a week what would have taken others months or even years. He had suffered through the tedious lessons; he had listened to the tiresome philosophical rants of the holographic image. He had learned nothing new about the Force, though the gatekeeper's words had revealed much about Darth Andeddu's personality and beliefs.
Like many of the ancient Sith, he was cruel, arrogant, self-centered, and shortsighted. His lessons mirrored those of Bane's instructors at the Sith Academy on Korriban; lessons Bane had rejected decades ago as flawed. He had moved beyond their teachings. His understanding of the dark side had evolved. In creating the Rule of Two, he had ushered in a new era for the Sith. He had transcended the limited understanding of men like Andeddu, and he was done listening to the gatekeeper's ignorant litany.
―Dynasty of Evil
To Andeddu's credit, it required Darth Bane considerable effort when he breached the holocron by force, imposing his will on Andeddu's holocron gatekeeper. If Bane's will had faltered, or the power of the holocron was too much for him to handle, his mind would have been destroyed, and his identity would have been devoured by the holocron, leaving his body a lifeless husk. It's noted that when Bane learned Essence Transfer, it would have normally taken weeks to absorb and learn the knowledge, had he not plunged his mind into the holocron directly.
The entire system was controlled by the capstone, a single piece of black crystal perched atop the apex of the pyramid. Imbued with incredible power, the capstone stabilized the matrix structure, allowing the individual pieces of data to be accessed instantaneously by the gatekeeper.
However, it was possible to circumvent the gatekeeper: but only by one strong enough to survive the attempt. If Bane's will faltered, or if the power of Andeddu's Holocron was more than he could handle, then his mind would be destroyed. His identity would be devoured by the talisman, leaving his body a mindless husk. It was a desperate gamble, but there was no other way to get what he needed. Not in time to help him against Zannah.
"If you will not give me what I want," he shouted at the gatekeeper, "then I will take it!"
Reaching out with the Force, he plunged his awareness into the depths of the pyramid's inner workings as the gatekeeper let loose a howl of impotent rage. Thrusting his consciousness directly into the capstone, Bane let his will invade the small four-sided talisman just as he himself had invaded the stronghold of Andeddu's cult back on Prakith.
For a brief instant he could feel the burning inferno of power trapped within threatening to consume his identity. Bane welcomed the pain, feeding on it and transforming it along with all the frustration and anger he had built up over the past four days into a raging, swirling storm of dark side energy. Then, bit by bit, he began to impose order on the chaos, bending it to his will.
Using the Force, Bane began to make subtle adjustments to the Holocron's crystal matrix. He began to manipulate the arrangement of the filaments, twisting, turning, and shifting them with subtle, immeasurable adjustments as he worked his way deeper and deeper into the data in pursuit of what he sought. In many ways it was like slicing a secure computer network, only a million times more complex.
With each adjustment, the gatekeeper's image flickered and cried out, but Bane was oblivious to the simulation's artificial suffering. For several hours he continued his work, his body perspiring heavily, until he finally found what he sought: the ritual of essence transference; Andeddu's secret of eternal life.
With one final push of the Force, he reached out with his mind and seized what he had been searching for. With the aid of the gatekeeper the information would have taken weeks to absorb and learn. Bane, however, had gone right to the source. The knowledge streamed directly from the Holocron into his mind, raw and unfiltered. Thousands of images flooded his consciousness, an explosion of sights, sounds, and thoughts that caused him to drop the Holocron to the floor, breaking the connection.
―Dynasty of Evil
Bane required a few days to process and fully comprehend the raw data he had absorbed regarding Essence Transfer.
Andeddu's knowledge was his now; over the past few days his brain had processed the raw information he had stolen to the point of full comprehension. He fully understood the ritual of essence transfer; he had learned the techniques that would allow him to move his consciousness from his own failing body into another. He just needed to select an appropriate victim.
Finding a new body to inhabit was the most difficult part of the ritual. He needed someone physically strong enough to withstand the massive quantities of dark side energy he would call on over the coming years, but at the same time he needed someone mentally vulnerable enough for him to overpower their will. The best candidate would be an engineered clone body, an empty shell with no thoughts or identity of its own. But creating a suitable clone could take years, and Bane wasn't convinced he had that much time left.
He would have to try to possess the body of a living victim:a very dangerous course of action. He would only have one chance: no matter the outcome, his own body would be destroyed in the process. And if his target possessed a will strong enough to resist his assault, the attempt would fail, banishing his spirit to the void for all eternity.
―Dynasty of Evil
Set Harth ended up in possession of Andeddu's holocron, and the gatekeeper warned it would take "years" for him to learn it's secrets, including Essence Transfer. Set Harth did go on to master this power.
He was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the shuttle he had stolen from the Stone Prison, Andeddu's Holocron resting on a small table a few meters away. All his attention was focused on the small holographic figure being projected from the black pyramid's top.
"It will take years for you to learn the lessons I must teach you," the gatekeeper warned him, its skeletal features serious and grim. "You must prove yourself worthy before I reveal the ritual of essence transfer to you."
"Of course, Master," he said, nodding eagerly. "I understand."
―Dynasty of Evil
―Ultimate Adversaries
Count Dooku came into possession of Andeddu's holocron, and believed it was "magnificent."
―Star Wars: Republic
Darth Krayt also came into possession of Andeddu's holocron, and coveted his secrets, to quote "legend holds that your body died, but you used the Force to keep it vivified. How?"
―Star Wars: Legacy
This could be the same technique Plagueis refers to below, however full details on the technique are given later in any case.
And yet the Sith Lords of old were said to have been able to draw on the energies released during death to extend their own lives, as well as the lives of others. Unfortunately, much like the technique of essence transfer, that ancient knowledge had been lost.
―Darth Plagueis
Andeddu had his own cult of Dark Side followers known as "The Malevolence." They have been loyal to Andeddu for millennia, and have passed down Sith knowledge from one generation to the next.
―Legacy Era Campaign Guide
―Star Wars: Legacy
Darth Bane thought that the priests of Andeddu, who ascended to their rank due to their affinity for the Force, had the potential to overwhelm him if they had enough time to organise themselves and unite their strength.
The remaining enemies were potentially more dangerous: the priests of Andeddu had no doubt ascended to their positions because of their affinity for the Force. Their training was probably limited, and Bane knew no single one among them was powerful enough to stop him. Together, though, they might have the potential to overwhelm him. However, he didn't intend to give them time to organize so they could attempt to unite their strength.
―Dynasty of Evil
However, Darth Wyyrlok III encountered a dozen lightsaber wielding Andeddu followers, and defeated them with an "iota" of his power.
―Star Wars: Legacy
Darth Andeddu's holocron was considerably powerful. Darth Bane was drawn to it's energy, and it's also noted that as a talisman of undeniable power, Bane could feel waves of dark side energy radiating from it. It's possible that the holocron was altering the space-time continuum of the Deep Core, destabilizing the hyperspace lanes.
Igniting his lightsaber again, he moved with long, quick strides as he made his way unerringly through the labyrinthine halls, drawn by the power of Andeddu's Holocron calling to him from the lower chambers.
―Dynasty of Evil
Many believed the talismans of the dark side carried a curse; others claimed they were somehow alive, as if the inanimate materials used to make a ring, amulet, or Holocron could somehow achieve sentience. Those ignorant enough to believe in such superstition might have claimed that Andeddu's Holocron was fighting Bane. They would have declared the collapsing hyperspace routes were evidence of Andeddu's vengeful spirit trapped within the crystal pyramid seeking to destroy the thief who had defiled his sacred temple.
Bane knew there was no inherent malevolence in the Holocron; it was merely a tool, a repository of knowledge. Yet he also understood how far reaching the effects of the Force could be. A storm of violence swirled around items imbued with the magic of the ancient Sith; the strong could ride the storm to even greater heights, the weak would be swept up in its wake and destroyed.
Andeddu's Holocron was a talisman of undeniable power; Bane could feel the waves of dark side energy radiating from it. It was possible the fragile matrix of the Deep Core's space-time continuum had been subtly altered by these waves during his outbound journey, destabilizing the hyperlanes.
―Dynasty of Evil
In addition, Quinlan Vos stated that the holocron "felt hot and cold at the same time," and he "sensed something malevolent" about it's energy. It made him feel uneasy and nauseous.
―Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force
Darth Andeddu studied the teachings of Karness Muur, and some of his achievements - presumably those related to Essence Transfer and reanimation of the self - were built on his experiments.
―Star Wars: Legacy
Prakith Nexus
Darth Andeddu's actions and death caused his stronghold to radiate with the dark side, such that Sidious' Inquisitorius were drawn to Prakith, and Darth Bane could feel it's dark side nexus "pulsing like a beacon" from the moment he emerged from hyperspace, still far from the planet itself.
―Dawn of Defiance: Sword of the Empire
He didn't know whether Andeddu's cult still existed or not, but from the moment he had come out of hyperspace he had been confident their stronghold still survived. He could feel its presence on the surface of the world-a nexus of dark side energy pulsing like a beacon from the heart of the mountains.
―Dynasty of Evil
Andeddu's keep was also described as a "major dark vergence" in Force and Destiny, which is another term used to describe a Force Nexus.
―Force and Destiny Core Rulebook
In the same source, the Jedi Temple's Force nexus is described similarly as a "major vergence," and other areas such as those on Dromund Kaas are classified similarly as Dark vergences.
―Force and Destiny Core Rulebook
Below is a full clarification on what is meant by "vergence" and "Force nexus," and it's noted that the death of a powerful Force user can cause a location to become a vergence. The nexus of Lake Natth on Ambria is described similarly to Andeddu's keep as a "major dark vergence."
―Force and Destiny Core Rulebook
Essence Transfer
Darth Andeddu is the creator of the Essence Transfer ritual.
For several hours he continued his work, his body perspiring heavily, until he finally found what he sought: the ritual of essence transference; Andeddu's secret of eternal life.
―Dynasty of Evil
―The Essential Reader's Companion
Darth Plagueis after going through an overview of Sith Sorcery, states that Darth Bane had learned a technique of even greater significance than the Sorcery Darth Zannah had learned: Essence Transfer. This speaks to the level of innovation and mastery of the dark side Andeddu possessed to be able to create the Essence Transfer ritual.
If one accepted the tales handed down in accounts and holocrons, the ancient Sith had known how to accomplish this. But had Sith like Naga Sadow and Exar Kun genuinely been more powerful, or had they benefited from the fact that the dark side had been more prominent in those bygone eras? Some commentators claimed that the ability to survive death had been limited to those with a talent for sorcery and alchemy, and that the use of such practices actually predated the arrival of the Dark Jedi exiles on Korriban. But sorcery had been employed less to extend life than to create illusions, fashion beasts, and resurrect the dead. Powerful adepts were said to have been able to saturate the atmosphere of planets with dark side energy, compel stars to explode, or induce paralysis in crowds, as Exar Kun apparently did to select members of the Republic Senate. Other adepts used sorcery merely as a means to better understand ancient Sith spells and sigils.
Darth Bane had referred to sorcery as one of the purest expressions of the dark side of the Force, and yet he hadn't been able to harness those energies with near the skill as had his onetime apprentice Zannah. Bane's disciples, however, believed that he had experimented with a technique of even greater significance: that of essence transfer, which he had learned after acquiring and plundering the holocron of Darth Andeddu, and which involved the relocation of an individual's consciousness into another body or, in some cases, a talisman, temple, or sarcophagus. Thus had the most powerful of the ancient Sith Lords survived death to haunt and harass those who would infiltrate their tombs.
―Darth Plagueis
Below is a description of Darth Bane attempting to transfer his consciousness into Darth Zannah's body, but she succeeds in overpowering his will with her own. Had Bane succeeded, he would have "obliterated all trace of her identity."
Everything went black. Blind and alone, he felt the void closing in. In desperation he reached out with his left hand, clutching Zannah's wrist as she lay on the ground beside him. With his last act, he summoned all his remaining power and invoked the ritual of essence transfer.
Working at the speed of thought, his mind tapped into the currents of the Force, seizing on the power of the dark side, spinning, shaping, and twisting it into the intricate patterns he had ripped from Andeddu's Holocron.
The cold darkness swallowing him up vanished, replaced by a searing burst of crimson light as the power of the ritual was unleashed. Bane was aware of his flesh being utterly consumed by the unimaginable heat, reduced to ashes in a thousandth of a second. But he was no longer a part of his own body. His spirit had discarded it like an old shell in favor of a new one.
Bane was suddenly fully aware of his physical surroundings. He could see with Zannah's eyes, he could hear with her ears. He could feel the intense heat of the ritual's crimson glow through her skin. But Zannah was still there, too. She sensed his assault; he could feel her terror and confusion as if they were his own. And when she screamed in horror he screamed with her.
The black tendrils vanished as her concentration was shattered, disappearing like smoke on the wind. Instinctively, she fought to repel the invader. Bane could feel her pushing him away, rejecting him, trying to drive him out even as he relentlessly tried to force his way in and snuff out her existence.
It became a battle of wills, their two identities locked together inside Zannah's mind, grappling for possession of her body. They teetered on the precipice of the void, Bane seeking to obliterate all trace of her identity while she sought to cast him down into the blackness.
―Dynasty of Evil
Darth Krayt's essence lingered after his death, and he states that he would be capable of returning to his own body and healing it with his Dark Healing power. He also states that he will possess Cade Skywalker's body. Cade additionally notes that Krayt is "infecting" him and "eating his mind."
―Star Wars: Legacy: War
Reanimate Undead
Darth Wyyrlok III coveted Andeddu's secret of immortality, which allowed him to live a "long, long life" maintaining his body "well beyond its natural span."
However, there was a small section that made a brief reference to a man named Darth Andeddu. Andeddu, the account claimed, had lived for centuries, using the dark side of the Force to extend his life and maintain his body well beyond its natural span.
―Dynasty of Evil
From the stories of the townspeople, Bane had learned that Andeddu had been worshiped as a deity during his long, long life before being overthrown. Yet even after his betrayal and death, a small cult of devoted followers believed his spirit still existed.
―Dynasty of Evil
"Lord Andeddu, legend holds that your body died, but you used the Force to keep it vivified."
―Darth Krayt (Star Wars: Legacy)
"We require knowledge only you possess. You animated your own body after its death. Your mind functioned. Your body responded to its commands."
―Darth Wyyrlok III (Star Wars: Legacy)
The secret of how Andeddu was able to reanimate his own dead body comes to light. He is able to transfer his consciousness or Force Essence into inanimate objects. He had transferred his essence to his holocron when he died, which is why he urged Wyyrlok to reunite his holocron with his body. Andeddu transferred his essence from the holocron to his body, and in the process, drained the life of one of his cultists to fuel his will.
"You transferred your intellect to what we assumed was a holocron. It was more. It was a shell -- just as that moldering corpse is a shell."
―Darth Wyyrlok III (Star Wars: Legacy)
―Star Wars: Legacy
What's worth noting is that Sorzus Syn considered the "Reanimated Dead" spell to be complex. It was an amalgam of Sith Alchemy and Spellcasting which formed "perfect necromancy." This was only in regards to the reanimation of other beings; reanimating your own dead body is a far more unique occurrence, something only Revan was able to do (and perhaps others I am forgetting).
―Book of Sith
Force Lightning
Andeddu uses Force Lightning against Darth Wyyrlok III, to no avail.
―Star Wars: Legacy
Drain Life
Andeddu demonstrates Drain Life as he kills one of his Force sensitive cultists.
―Star Wars: Legacy
Telepathy
Andeddu is capable of using Telepathy to convince an opponent they have died in their mind, resulting in physical death, and presumably he can and has used this technique successfully in the past. However, against Darth Wyyrlok III, the technique is turned back against him, and his essence is destroyed by the superior Sith Lord.
