CHARACTER BIO

This blog offers a detailed account of Valkorion and history of his exploits - chief antagonist of the overarching BioWare SWTOR project.

A being of unfathomable power and insatiable appetite, he transcended death multiple times, shedding his physical shells as they were discovered, defeated, and destroyed... only to return in another form."

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne: Codex Entry titled "The Fall of Valkorion.")

• Original name: Tenebrae
• Alias: Valkorion
• Original form: Sith Pureblood (biological)
• Biological father: Lord Dramath
• Evolved form: Entity (ability to cheat death; body hopping)
• Former Sith identities: Lord Vitiate; Darth Vitiate; The Sith Emperor
• Post-Sith identities: Vitiate; The Immortal Emperor; Valkorion
• Last known identity: Emperor Vitiate
• Sith apprentice(s): Exal Kressh
• Notable characteristic: Immortality
• Spouse: Senya Tirall
• Offspring: Thexan; Arcann; Vaylin

SECTIONS

This blog have following PARTS and sections:-

PART 1

1. In Brief

2. Tenebrae [Original]

3. Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor]

PART 2

4. Tenebrae [VOICES] - the ENTITY

5. Tenebrae [Valkorion]

6. Tenebrae [Consciousness] - Reconstruction of the ENTITY

7. ENDNOTES

COMPANION BLOGS

This blog inspired following companion blogs:

Tenebrae - NATHEMA and SCALING (NEW)

Tenebrae/Vitiate/Valkorion - The Most Powerful Force-user Debate (Under construction)

Tenebrae/Vitiate/Valkorion - The Limitless Power philosophy (To be revisited)

Tenebrae/Vitiate/Valkorion - Devourer of Worlds - Consuming ZIOST (Updated and Expanded)

Tenebrae/Vitiate/Valkorion - FORCE POWERS (Under Review)

Tenebrae/Vitiate/Valkorion - DARK SCIENCES (NEW)

Tenebrae/Vitiate/Valkorion - Scholar and Collector (Coming soon)

LEGAL

This blog is in compliance with (CC BY 4.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

SPOILERS ALERT

Potential readers are CAUTIONED in advance that this blog contain heavy spoilers in its constructs.

This blog draw heavily from following publication:

TYPE OF WORK

Narrative Review with visual content in the mix.

NOMENCLATURES

"Valkorion. Tenebrae. Vitiate. Emperor of the Sith. My low-born son has worn many masks." - Lord Dramath

Tenebrae is a long-lived character donning multiple identities and he also EVOLVED over time as a being. This blog conform to following nomenclatures accordingly:

Tenebrae [Original] = Sith Pureblood

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] = Life prolonged via Sith Sorcery (Original Body)

Tenebrae [VOICES] = Life prolonged via Transfer Life application in other living beings, and a large number of individuals converted into extensions of his will alongside.

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor VOICE] (or Tenebrae [TSEV] in short) = a part of Tenebrae [VOICES] and MASK for the reconstituted ancient Sith Empire.

Tenebrae [The Immortal Emperor VOICE] (or Tenebrae [TIEV] in short) = a part of Tenebrae [VOICES] and MASK for The Eternal Empire.

Tenebrae [Vitiate] = Tenebrae [TSEV]'s immortal consciousness (Shadow of Revan; Rise of the Sith Emperor)

Tenebrae [Valkorion] = Tenebrae's immortal consciousness bind to The Outlander for plot convenience (Knights of the Fallen Empire; Knights of the Eternal Throne)

Tenebrae [Consciousness] = a part of Tenebrae's immortal consciousness which infiltrated the mind of Satele Shan in order to reconstruct the entity inside her mind and hollow her out for subsequent takeover (Echoes of Oblivion)

ANOTHER CHARACTER of much significance

The Outlander (who started a rebellion against The Eternal Empire encompassing numerous factions including the Jedi and Sith and became The Alliance Commander subsequently) feature heavily in contents of this blog.

Official portrayal of this character in updates provided by BioWare suggest a HUMAN MALE corresponding to the Jedi Knight background:

In-game portrayal of this character vary as per player choices and tastes nevertheless.

[name] has become the Jedi Order's Battlemaster after saving the Republic from many nefarious plots by the evil Sith Emperor. On countless planets, this champion of the Force is all that stands between helpless innocents and the enemy's conquest. But a terrible new threat has emerged at the galaxy's farthest edge, forcing an unlikely alliance between [name] and old foes....

From (Star Wars The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire: Codex Entry titled "The Jedi Knight.")

The Eternal Empire pushed the Jedi Order to de-centralize itself [a] and the legendary Jedi Knight of the time (alias Hero of Tython) became The Outlander at some point [b].

Revelation [a] below:

Based on the intelligence we’ve gathered, I believe the Jedi recognized the possibility of their order being destroyed by the Eternal Empire and chose to de-centralize themselves to better their chances of long-term survival.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Jedi Under Siege: State of the Galaxy)

Revelation [b] below:

But the immortal Emperor could not be vanquished so easily. He evaded death by infiltrating the mind of the Outlander, his most powerful opponent.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne: Character Profiles)

Acknowledgements

BioWare - First and Foremost for the SWTOR project.

Uploads on YouTube by member xLetalis.

Uploads on YouTube by member Retale.

Uploades on YouTube by member Perseus Kao.

SWTORISTA - Photos of different forms of the character.

This blog draw much information from the following publication:

Recommended read and purchase.

Memorable Description

From Jakob Renner

Emperor Vitiate: The Ruler of all Sith and devourer of worlds.

Emperor Valkorion: The Human skin of the monster.

Tenebrae: The inhuman monster beneath all the masks.

Reachable at following LINK.

CONTINUITY

LEGENDS

ERA

THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE SITH

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Marka Ragnos was the undisputed ruler of the ancient Sith Empire:

Finally, a Sith Lord arose who exemplified the virtues of the Sith. Marka Ragnos was an imposing, merciless figure, a master of the Force and the arts of war. He set his enemies at each other's throats and battled for supreme power. With the defeat of his last rival, Marka Ragnos became the new Dark Lord of the Sith. He ruled for over a century, unchallenged, in a period of stability later called the Golden Age of the Sith.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

- and the most powerful Sith Lord of the era:

Marka Ragnos ruled the galaxy with an iron fist. He was the Dark Lord of the Sith — the most powerful of the most powerful.

From (Tales of the Jedi - The Golden Age of the Sith #2 - Funeral for a Dark Lord)

KEY PARENT

Lord Dramath was a powerful Sith Lord:

Valkorion. Vitiate. The former Emperor of both the Sith Empire and the Eternal Empire has assumed multiple forms over the centuries, but when he was born to a poor farmer's wife and a powerful Sith Lord on the agricultural world of Medriaas, he was "Tenebrae."

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Onslaught: Codex entry titled "Tenebrae.")

- and a planetary governor:

By the age of ten, Tenebrae was feared across Mediraas as the entire northern continent fell under his sway. Sith Lord Dramath, planetary governor of Mediraas, set out to bring the boy in line.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Lord Dramath created a Sith Holocron at some point:

All holocrons are based on a complex yet elegant technology: a lattice of organic crystals woven together at a microscopic level. The crystal lattice can store vast amounts of information, as well as replicate the appearance and personality of the holocron's creator as a gatekeeper who will guide students in their training.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne: Codex Entry titled "Dramath's Holocron.")

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Scholars know that a holocron is a box of crystalline lattices, which are capable of housing near-infinite amounts of priceless data. These matrices can be aligned only through precise and exhausting application of the Force. A completed holocron can be accessed only by another Force-user. To navigate a holocron's secrets, one must speak to its gatekeeper - a holographic echo of the device's builder that retains a measure of the builder's spirit. Constructing a holocron can take months, and a single misstep can collapse the device into dust.

From (Sorzus Syn, Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side)

To paraphrase, Lord Dramath is not really the all hype and no substance kind; creating a Sith Holocron is one of the most difficult applications of the Force.

KEY DUEL

Tenebrae [Original] (10 years old)

vs.

Lord Dramath

By the age of ten, Tenebrae was feared across Mediraas as the entire northern continent fell under his sway. Sith Lord Dramath, planetary governor of Mediraas, set out to bring the boy in line.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Lord Dramath was a legitimate threat to Tenebrae [Original] in person:

"For this, we just have to look at the last person who ever stood up to Vitiate at anywhere near the level that the player's character did on Ziost: Revan. When Revan took a crack at him, Vitiate locked him up for centuries, picking and prodding at his mind the entire time. So we know that Tenebrae/Vitiate/Valkorion doesn't destroy people who are a legitimate threat to him; he's fascinated by them. He entraps them, studies them, manipulates them, and corrupts them. (He did it to Vaylin, too! And Dramath!)" - Charles Boyd

Details in the following LINK.

Tenebrae [Original] applied sever Force to overwhelm Lord Dramath when the two were face-to-face:

Lord Dramath intended to judge the child’s power to determine if he was worthy of serving the Sith Lord, or if he should simply be executed. But Tenebrae had no intention of serving—or of dying. When they met face-to-face, Tenebrae proved the stronger. Only ten years old, he stripped his father of his power and his mind.

From (Darth Nyriss, Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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Ten years later, the Sith Lord heard rumors of a child gathering power in the northern continent, but did not personally investigate until his envoys failed to return. After days of travel, Dramath reached the source of the rumors only to face his illegitimate son, Tenebrae, the future Sith Emperor and immortal ruler of Zakuul. That day, Tenebrae removed his father's connection to the Force and imprisoned him within a powerful holocron, leaving Dramath alone to wither slowly into madness over an eternity.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne: Codex entry titled "Lord Dramath.")

Thousands of year later, Darth Plagueis disclosed in his scientific journal The Science of Life that the sever Force application could trigger a mass die-off of a victim's Midi-chlorians - defanging a Force-user in the process:

From (Darth Plagueis, Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side)

This application is recognized as the most powerful application a Jedi could wield as a weapon:

From (Jedi vs Sith - The Essential Guide to the Force)

- but Lord Dramath was a threat in death as well, and Tenebrae [Original] and was able to twist and pervert the Sith Holocron of Lord Dramath on the same day - a feat that should prove just as difficult as creating one* - and used the now corrupted Sith Holocron to imprison the Force spirit of Lord Dramath for eternity:

That day, Tenebrae removed his father's connection to the Force and imprisoned him within a powerful holocron, leaving Dramath alone to wither slowly into madness over an eternity.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne: Codex entry titled "Lord Dramath.")

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In his youth, Valkorion--then known as Tenebrae--discovered a way to twist and pervert the lattice so it could capture the spirit of powerful Force users, locking them in a metaphysical cage. He used the weapon on Dramath, his tyrannical father, and trapped him inside the holocron for centuries.

But the same corrupted technology Valkorion used to vanquish his father could also be turned against him, permanently imprisoning his immortal spirit... or obliterating it from existence.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne: Codex Entry titled "Dramath's Holocron.")

NOTE: This artifact was stored in the Emperor's Vault deep inside the Sanitarium on NATHEMA. This was the vault where Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] stored artifacts which could threaten him in any capacity - the most dangerous artifacts as per him. Given the environment of NATHEMA, this vault remained inaccessible to the Jedi and Sith for over a thousand years. More on this in PART 2.

KEY DISCOVERY

ZILDROG was an ancient superweapon:

"I thought it was just a legend, but he dragon god of Zakuul is real... it's a superweapon. Capable of consuming entire civilizations."

From (Vinn Atrius, Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Nathema Conspiracy)

BLOG for reference: Iokath - The ARCHIVES are Incomplete.

At some point, Tenebrae [Original] discovered ZILDROG on his homeworld:

The ancient mechanical entity known as Zildrog has always operated from behind the scenes. Unlike the other "machine gods" of Iokath, Zildrog permanently functions in two forms.

The first is a central computer that specializes in the transfer of life energies. Given this device's presence on Nathema, it is likely that Zildrog was a key element of the original ritual Tenebrae used to empower himself at the cost of all life on the planet. Beyond that first atrocity, however, Zildrog's central mind appears to have played no role in Tenebrae's dual life as Vitiate and Valkorion, and slumbered in stasis mode until Vinn Atrius discovered it many years later.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Nathema Conspiracy: Codex Entry titled "Zildrog.")

Tenebrae [Original] would take his chances with this ancient superweapon one day. His endgoal was (i.e. IMMORTALITY) - he would make this possible via Sith Sorcery while putting ZILDROG to good use in the process.

SITH SORCERY

NATHEMA

Once known as Medriaas, Nathema was an agriworld of the Sith Empire at a time when Sith also controlled the Chorlian sector. An ancient Dark Lord of the Sith named Darth Vitiate destroyed all life on Nathema with a ritual designed to grant him immortality. A transcription of this ritual was recorded by Darth Revan and served as the inspiration for Lord Kaan's thought bomb on Ruusan.

From (Star Wars: Force and Destiny - Core Rulebook)

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The ritual lasted ten days. Lord Vitiate orchestrated the sorcery and the planet Mediraas was consumed by the largest dark side nexus the galaxy would ever see. When the ritual ended, Lord Vitiate emerged as the only survivor. The pain, energy, and suffering of every living entity on the planet fueled his power and would prolong his life for centuries. The lifeless planet of Mediraas became a void in the Force and was erased from history. From that moment forward, the world would forever be known as Nathema, birthplace of the one and only Sith Emperor.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Tenebrae [Original] eliminated the Sith Council of the time to make sure that his ritual would succeed and they will not intervene:

Lord Vitiate takes command of the Sith Empire, now in shambles following the Great Hyperspace War. He executes the Sith Council and consumes the life force of thousands of Sith Lords in a terrifying ritual that extends his life and vastly increases his capacity as a practitioner of the Force.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Tenebrae [Original]'s ritual had no peer in the sheer amount of participants involved, the sheer amount of energies it produced, and it LEFT a VOID in the Force by the end:

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Telepathy

Spectrum of applications

The disciplines of Mind require intense concentration and are mentally taxing. Physical strength will not help you here, only psychic clarity.

From (Darth Bane, Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side)

Although other Sith Lords agreed to partake in the ritual, Tenebrae [Original] made sure that no one could attempt to escape post-initiation with his frightening proficiency in Telepathic applications:

“Once they arrived on Nathema, they quickly fell under Lord Vitiate’s control. He dominated their minds, crushed their resistance. He turned them into slaves to his will, forcing them to participate in the most complex ritual of Sith sorcery ever attempted. Calling on the dark side, Lord Vitiate devoured them. He fed on their power, absorbing it into himself, utterly obliterating all traces of his victims.

But the ritual was not confined to the doomed Sith Lords. They were but the eye of the storm; the center of a vortex that spread across the entire planet. Every man, woman, and child on Nathema died that day. Every beast, bird, and fish; all the insects and plants; every living being touched by the Force was consumed. When the ritual ended, Nathema was no longer a world. It was a husk sucked dry."

From (Darth Nyriss, Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

ORIGINAL BODY

THE SECRETIVE and supremely powerful Sith Emperor rose from inauspicious beginnings over a thousand years ago. Born to farmers on the planet Medriaas, Tenebrae entered the galaxy without shedding a tear. He regarded his parents with cold pitiless eyes. As years passed Tenebrae manifested Force powers and honed his mastery of the dark side. He soon dominated his homeworld, consumed the lives of thousands of Sith Lords, and took the title of the one true Sith Emperor. Driven by his quest for immortality and fueled by the energy sapped from his victims, the Emperor lived for centuries, amassing insurmountable power, rebuilding his exiled Empire, and plotting his ascension to ultimate rule.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Tenebrae [Original] after NATHEMA:

The ritual lasted ten days. Lord Vitiate orchestrated the sorcery and the planet Mediraas was consumed by the largest dark side nexus the galaxy would ever see. When the ritual ended, Lord Vitiate emerged as the only survivor. The pain, energy, and suffering of every living entity on the planet fueled his power and would prolong his life for centuries. The lifeless planet of Mediraas became a void in the Force and was erased from history. From that moment forward, the world would forever be known as Nathema, birthplace of the one and only Sith Emperor.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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The Sith Empire's exile dragged on for centuries. While the military, navy, and Sith grew strong, the Emperor amassed unfathomable power and plotted a vengeful war against the Republic. He ruled from the privacy of his chambers in the Citadel, his life extended to virtual immortality by Sith sorcery.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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The Emperor is one thousand years old. In a dark side ritual, he drained the life of his home planet, to achieve immortality.

From (Star Wars: The Essential Reader's Companion)

Courtesy of the above, Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] remained untouched by age for over a thousand years:

Servants of the Hand share their Master's longevity, living untouched by age for centuries under his command.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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There was something strange about the Emperor’s voice. It didn’t sound like the voice of a single being. It had an unusual echo and resonance, almost as if a great multitude were speaking his words in perfect symphony.

A grim theory passed unbidden through Scourge’s mind: was it possible all those that had been consumed by the ritual on Nathema still existed in some form within the Emperor himself? Nyriss said he’d devoured them, but what if she was only partially correct? What if he had imprisoned their spirits inside his own corporeal form, slowly feeding on their life energy over a thousand years to keep himself young and strong?

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] was one 1003 years old by the time of the Great Sith War circa 3996 BBY and 1163 years old by the time Revan [Reborn] attempted to assassinate him (his second attempt to be precise).

Under the guidance of the Emperor—the immortal and all-powerful savior who still reigned over them even after a thousand years—they abandoned the hedonistic lifestyles of their barbaric ancestors.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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Using the power of the dark side to extend his life for over a thousand years, the Emperor built his armies and warships in secret.

From (Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide: Updated and Expanded)

NOTE: If the first 113 years of LIFE are overlooked - a time when Tenebrae wasn't The Sith Emperor - he was 1050 years old as The Sith Emperor by the time Revan [Reborn] attempted to assassinate him.

The Emperor

Acting without any legal, political, or financial restraints, Emperor Palpatine develops the largest military force in galactic history. Supervision of the Imperial Navy is later assigned to Moffs----Imperial military commanders----and Palpatine thoroughly dedicates himself to the study of the dark side of the Force. As he strives to discover the secrets of eternal life, he also begins experimenting with cloning technology. Protected at all times by his red-cloaked Royal Guards, the Emperor seldom leaves his palace on Coruscant.

From (Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide: Updated and Expanded)

Palpatine began to subject the populace of BYSS to Drain Life Essence technique to slow down the process of his aging (original body):

"This planet is a dark side conduit. A call to the Force summons an exponential flood.

But the Force demands balance.

In order to give energy, it must take energy." - Palpatine

"The workers" - Darth Vader

"That is correct my apprentice.

The entire population feeds me even now...

.. slowly surrendering their life energies to add to mine." - Palpatine

"Immortality." - Darth Vader

"Ha! not yet, Lord Vader.

The power of Byss will strengthen the body and mind, merely slowing the decay of crude matter.

But we will yet discover the ultimate secret, my friend." - Palpatine

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Years ago, Emperor Palpatine chose Byss as his private retreat, and Imperial architects and engineers were commissioned to build him an opulent palace. Several million humans were allowed to emigrate to the world, where the Emperor and his adepts used the dark side to feed off their life energies. The planet's population eventually reached almost 20 billion, and all outgoing communications were censored by security agents.

From (The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia)

and sustain his dark side experiments on BYSS:

"The galaxy is choked with beings. Billions die every instant. It is better to make use of this resource. At my retreat on Byss, the life force of its colonists supplied an energy pool to sustain my dark side experiments." - Palpatine

From (Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side)

Palpatine could only delay the inevitable however and unlocked the ability to Transfer Life into his supply of clones when the time came.

NATHEMA conditions kept up.

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] reshaped planet DROMUND KAAS to his image.

Sith Sorcey (Alter Environment)

Esoteric rites of darkness

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] was the MASTER of the art of Sith Sorcery - to the extent that he could reshape a world to his image.

Power hungry, the Emperor spent great energy discovering and perfecting esoteric rites of darkness – rituals that wrecked the atmosphere of Dromund Kaas, transforming the ionosphere into a swirling electric storm.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Holonet)

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Storms were common here on Dromund Kaas; dark clouds perpetually blocked out the sun, rendering terms like day and night meaningless.

Taken from (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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The powerful electrical storms were a physical manifestation of the dark side power that engulfed the entire planet—a power that had brought the Sith back here a millennium before, when their very survival had been in doubt.

Taken from (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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MEETRA FOUGHT TO KEEP the Ebon Hawk steady on its descent through the fierce storms raging in the skies above Kaas City spaceport.

She knew the storm-ravaged world had to be the world Canderous had spoken of; the one Revan had seen in his dreams. The dark side was powerful here.

Taken from (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

NOTE (1): The aforementioned SHIFT in climatic conditions had a profound impact on the flora and fauna of the planet by extension.

ENDLESS NIGHTS, DEADLY JUNGLES, and violent electrical storms enshroud the hostile world of Dromund Kaas.

Taken from (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

The seemingly permanent violent electrical storms necessitated construction of Lightning Spires on Dromund Kaas to make it habitable:

The lightning spires of Dromund Kaas tower above the planet's dark jungles, attracting the deadly lightning strikes that constantly scorch the world's storm-ravaged surface. The spires protect ground forces from falling prey to deadly strikes and harness the storm's electrical energy to power Kaas City.

The lightning spires were originally conceived by Renigus Wight, a former commander in the Imperial Reclamation Service. Renigus was spearheading an excavation mission in the jungles of Dromund Kaas when a violent storm erupted in the skies overhead. His officers ran for shelter, but were too slow. A single bolt of lightning wiped out his entire crew: 49 officers, researchers and slaves. Renigus only survived thanks to the grace of a twisted ankle that caused him to lag behind the panicked stampede and miss the fatal strike.

Following this incident, Renigus retired from the service to design the first lightning spire-a beacon of safety to shield future Imperial expeditions from the planet's wrathful storms.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne: Codex Entry titled "Lightning Spires.")

NOTE (2): DROMUND KAAS is a large (rocky) planet with the diameter of 22,450 KM as per the disclosure in Star Wars: The Dark Forces saga related content.

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One of the most dangerous environments on DROMUND KAAS was the Dark Temple:

Hundreds of years ago, the Sith Emperor ordered the construction of the Dark Temple as a burial place for his dead and defeated enemies, “to aid them in becoming one with the Force.” Little is known of what rituals the Emperor performed there, but the Dark Temple has become a nexus of powerful dark side energy, and a place where ancient weapons and ancient secrets of the Sith lay sealed away in cavernous chambers.

Although the Dark Temple grounds have always been a dangerous place for the weak-willed (the expansion of the Kaas City power grid into tunnels beneath the temple drove a thousand slaves mad), the temple itself remained sealed until recently, when an expedition of power-hungry Sith Lords and their servants breached the gateway.

The Dark Council did not sanction this intrusion, nor did it punish the rogue Sith; no one returned from the expedition to punish. Violent electrical storms surrounded the temple for the first week after it was opened, and since then, additional expeditions have been sent by the council to determine the temple’s status. Their reports have not been made public.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Codex Entry titled "The Dark Temple.")

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From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Lord Kallig - one of the Force spirits trapped inside the Dark Temple - for reference:

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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"Kallig! He was one of the most powerful Sith Lords of his time. Perhaps the most powerful. Oddly pro-alien. To think how the Empire might have been different if he had killed Tulak Hord and not the other way around." - Talos Drellik

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Drain Life Essence

Related to Force Drain

"A delicate procedure that saps the life energy of another and funnels it directly into your own essence. It is extremely difficult to employ in combat and is derived from the teachings of Zelashiel the Blasphemer in the Holocron of Darth Revan."

From (Darth Bane, Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side)

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] fed on the life energy of all who were trapped inside the Dark Temple (living and the Force spirits):

Burial place, prison, and reliquary, the Dark Temple was built on the orders of the Emperor to seal away powerful artifacts and the Emperor's enemies, both alive and dead. The temple became a nexus of dark side energy as the Emperor performed rituals within, drawing strength and knowledge from his captives. The temple's twisted, grotesque architecture was specifically designed to focus and contain such corrupt darkness.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Drain Knowledge

Related to Force Drain

Take another look:

Burial place, prison, and reliquary, the Dark Temple was built on the orders of the Emperor to seal away powerful artifacts and the Emperor's enemies, both alive and dead. The temple became a nexus of dark side energy as the Emperor performed rituals within, drawing strength and knowledge from his captives. The temple's twisted, grotesque architecture was specifically designed to focus and contain such corrupt darkness.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

NATHEMA conditions kept up.

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] purged a rebellious Dark Council.

NOTE: At any point in time, members of the Dark Council are expected to be among the most powerful Sith in the galaxy:

While the undying Emperor serves as the unquestioned leader of the Empire, the twelve members of the Dark Council oversee the daily workings of their vast civilization and speak in the Emperor’s name. Each is among the most powerful Sith in the galaxy; to hold a seat on the council is the highest honor and the greatest position of influence a Sith can attain.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Codex Entry titled "The Dark Council.")

Members of the Dark Council are capable of laying waste to an environment in their personal feuds:

Dark Council members Darth Victun and Darth Qalar obliterated the Citadel on Dromund Kaas during an especially violent Kaggath. In response, the other Dark Council members immediately executed them and used their assets to rebuild what had been destroyed.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Sith Sorcery (Offensive)

Esoteric expressions of will

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] was the MASTER of the art of Sith Sorcery - to the extent that he could employ this talent to not only reshape a world (see ALTER ENVIRONMENT above) but also to address extreme manner of threats from a distance.

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] employed a powerful yet mysterious technique to overwhelm a rebellious Dark Council from a distance:

During a violent tempest, Darth Lokess called a secret meeting of her eleven fellow Dark Council members. Under the cover of night, the Dark Council met and heard Darth Lokess describe a brilliant and daring plan to overthrow the Sith Emperor, end his relentless exile, and lead the Empire back to war against the Republic. An army of Sith under the command of Darth Lokess were stationed outside the meeting, ready to slay any Dark Council member who refused. But they all agreed to depose the Emperor.

It remains a mystery how the Emperor learned of his council's treachery. He allowed their plan to play out, but when they gathered to confront the Emperor, his punishment was swift and devastating. Eleven members of the Dark Council died in a sudden flash on the steps of the Citadel. The last member Darth Lokess, disappeared forever, though for some centuries some claimed her screams could be heard from the bowels of the Citadel.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

NATHEMA conditions kept up.

The Mandalorian Wars
circa 3976 BBY

"The Mandalorian Wars were a series of massacres that masked another war, a war of conversion. Culminating in a final atrocity that no Jedi could walk away from… save one." - Darth Traya

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encylopedia)

Corrupting Mandalore the Ultimate

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] experienced a Force vision of the Mandalorian Wars and dispatched one of his Hands to convince the reigning Mandalore to attack the Republic - the Hand succeeded in doing so by warping the mind of Mandalore the Ultimate (Telepathic application Mind Control implied):

"So did the Jedi. The Sith species vanished after the Great Hyperspace War. One of their kind hasn’t been seen in Republic space in over a thousand years. But this red-skinned being came to Mandalore. He claimed to be the emissary of a powerful Master—a descendant of the Sith Lord who had driven Dramath into exile—and convinced Mandalore to help him search for his enemy's tomb."

Revan was speaking slowly, the words coming out only as fast as the details came into focus. His recollections were still hazy and jumbled. The original time and place of each specific memory was unclear. Mandalore had told him some of this. Other details had come from the datacron in the tomb. Most of it he had learned much later, after he and Malak had journeyed into the Unknown Regions themselves.

It was impossible to sort it all out. Out of necessity, his damaged mind had collapsed his memories into one another, merging them into a semicoherent whole as he'd slept.

"Mandalore helped the Sith find Dramath's hidden crypt," he continued. "The Sith took the remains to give to his Master, and in exchange he told Mandalore of a vision his Master had had of the Mandalorians rising up against the Republic. He told him they would conquer world after world, crushing their enemies until the Republic collapsed in on itself. He promised the Mandalorians a glorious victory, and Mandalore believed him."

"Mandalore the Ultimate wouldn't lead us into war against the Republic just because some stranger told him we'd win," Canderous protested.

"It's more complicated than that. The Sith used the power of the dark side to manipulate him. Only as Mandalore lay dying at my feet was the spell finally broken and he realized he’d been tricked. That was why he told me about this place. So I could come and see for myself."

"This doesn't make any sense," Canderous said. "You say the Sith tricked Mandalore into attacking the Republic. But why?"

"I don't know," Revan admitted. "Maybe it was a test of your strength. Or ours. Maybe the Sith are planning another invasion, and they sought to weaken the Republic."

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

NOTE: When Jedi Knight Revan defeated Mandalore the Ultimate in single combat, he discovered that the Mandalore was under dark influence of the Sith all along - this was the first clue for the Jedi that the true Sith existed. This was also Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor]'s first major attempt to influence galactic events by extension.

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Drain Life Essence

Related to Force Drain

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] could feed on life energy of his subjects from lightyears distances - apparent from the fact that he dispatched the Hands to distant parts of the galaxy for desired ends.

Servants of the Hand share their Master's longevity, living untouched by age for centuries under his command. In return, the Emperor draws on his servant's strength in the Force and body to feed his ever-increasing power, leaving the servants withered and frail. But with no memories of their past lives, the servants have no history and live solely to serve the Emperor.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

NATHEMA conditions kept up.

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] overwhelmed the legendary veterans of the Mandalorian Wars (Revan and Malak) in a confrontation.

“We underestimated his power. When we confronted him, he didn’t even have to fight us. Instead, he broke our wills. He dominated our minds, turning us into puppets to do his bidding. He sent us back to the Republic as the vanguard of his invasion, with instructions to report back when all resistance was crushed.

But though we had underestimated the Emperor’s power, he underestimated us, as well. Our wills were stronger than he thought; our minds twisted and perverted his instructions until we thought we were acting of our own accord. Malak and I were turned to the dark side, but in doing so we found the strength to block out all memory of the Sith and the Emperor, partially freeing us from his control.”

From (Revan, Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encylopedia)

Darth Revan was captured by the Jedi and they mindwiped him circa 3959 BBY:

Revan and Malak had both sought to destroy the Republic. But Malak had betrayed his Master, and Revan had been captured by the Jedi Council, barely alive, his body and mind shattered. The Council had saved his life, but they had also stripped his memories and rebuilt him as a weapon that could be unleashed against Darth Malak and his followers.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Revan [The Prodigal Knight] recalls something circa 3953 BBY:

Something had happened to him and Malak beyond the Outer Rim. They had gone to defeat the Mandalorians, but they had returned as disciples of the dark side. The official story was that they had been corrupted by the ancient power of the Star Forge, but Revan suspected there was more to it. And he knew it had something to do with his nightmares.

A terrible world of thunder and lightning, shrouded in perpetual night.

He and Malak had found something. He couldn’t remember what it was, or where it was, but he feared it on a deep, primal level. Somehow he knew that whatever the terrible secret might be, it was a threat far greater than the Mandalorians or the Star Forge. And Revan was convinced it was still out there.

The storm is coming, and there is no escape.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Telepathy

Spectrum of applications

Tenebrae - by and large - was frighteningly proficient in Telepathic applications including Mind Control. A large number of individuals were under his spell by now and he still had the capacity to breach mental barrier(s) of powerful Force-user(s) with limited effort.

“The Emperor has the ability to dominate and enslave the minds of those who serve him,” she explained. “It’s one of the reasons he has ruled for so long. Those that are transformed become fanatical zealots who live to serve; they are not capable of betraying him.” She glanced back at the door behind which they had left the Jedi. “I suspect that instead of executing Revan as he publicly proclaimed, the Emperor turned him into a puppet of his will and sent him back to the Republic to gather information.”

From (Darth Nyriss, Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Example 2 - Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] warped the minds of the legendary Jedi heroes Revan* and Malak with barely an effort:

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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The legendary Jedi Revan and Malak confront the Sith Emperor in his throne room on Dromund Kaas. In mere moments, the Jedi lay defeated and consumed by the dark side of the Force.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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Driven by haste and curiosity, Revan and Malak confronted the Sith Emperor without alerting the Republic. The supreme and horrifying power of the Emperor corrupted the Jedi and completed their fall to the dark side.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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Finally, the Mandalorians had been routed. The Jedi generals Revan and Malak had killed Mandalore and hounded the remnants of the enemy fleet far beyond the boundaries of Republic space–and in so doing, performed terrible deeds and learned dark powers.
But there were darker days to come. During Revan's pursuit of the Mandalorians, he and Malak discovered the ancient Sith Empire hidden on Dromund Kaas. Realizing this Empire was the true threat to the Republic, Revan and Malak faced the Sith Emperor himself, intending to cut off the serpent's head–but the Emperor was too powerful. Overwhelmed by the Emperor's dark presence, they pledged themselves to his service.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Codex entry titled "The Galactic History 74: Revan and Malak Fall.")

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*Revan had become the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy a while ago:

Though the Mandalorian fought valiantly, in the end he was no match for the Jedi Order's most powerful champion.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

NOTE: Jedi Master Lucien Draay was a peer of Revan in times of the Mandalorian Wars and is stated to be a good fight for Darth Vader [Original Trilogy] by extension (Wizards of the Coast: KOTOR Miniatures Preview - Master Lucien Draay). Whatever information Wizards of the Coast disclosed about each character in its official preview(s), is LFL vetted and endorsed.

Confirmation below:

NATHEMA conditions kept up.

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] was the embodiment of the VOID that he had created much earlier circa 4999 BBY.

The ritual lasted ten days. Lord Vitiate orchestrated the sorcery and the planet Mediraas was consumed by the largest dark side nexus the galaxy would ever see. When the ritual ended, Lord Vitiate emerged as the only survivor. The pain, energy, and suffering of every living entity on the planet fueled his power and would prolong his life for centuries. The lifeless planet of Mediraas became a void in the Force and was erased from history. From that moment forward, the world would forever be known as Nathema, birthplace of the one and only Sith Emperor.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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There was something strange about the Emperor’s voice. It didn’t sound like the voice of a single being. It had an unusual echo and resonance, almost as if a great multitude were speaking his words in perfect symphony.

A grim theory passed unbidden through Scourge’s mind: was it possible all those that had been consumed by the ritual on Nathema still existed in some form within the Emperor himself? Nyriss said he’d devoured them, but what if she was only partially correct? What if he had imprisoned their spirits inside his own corporeal form, slowly feeding on their life energy over a thousand years to keep himself young and strong?

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Telepathy

Spectrum of applications

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] brushed his mind with that of Lord Scourge [Original] to send a message across, leaving one of the finest warriors of the time reeling on the floor from the experience.

The Emperor had no physical reaction to the revelation; he stayed as still and calm as death itself. But the air around Scourge seemed to grow colder.

“Are you certain of these accusations?”

“I would stake my life on them, my lord Emperor.”

“You already have.”

Scourge felt a shiver trace its way down his spine, and he knew that far more than his life was at risk. The Emperor was no longer a member of the Sith species; his power and immortality had transformed him into a being unique in the galaxy. When he spoke of life and death, it had far deeper meaning than the mere physical existence of the lesser beings that served him.

“Does Nyriss know you are here?”

“No. I came to you as soon as I deciphered the data on Sechel’s disks.”

There was a long silence, and Scourge had the distinct impression that the Emperor was somehow communicating with someone outside the room.

A few seconds later the doors to the throne room opened and Captain Yarri strode in, accompanied by a Sith wearing the same dark robes as the Emperor.

They approached Scourge, and the robed Sith held out his hand expectantly. Scourge handed him the disks.

“Keep Lord Scourge in custody until this matter is settled,” the Emperor intoned.

“Forgive me, Lord Emperor,” Scourge said, speaking quickly but trying to keep his tone humble. “But Nyriss is expecting my return. If I am absent, she will grow suspicious.”

The Emperor’s dark eyes seemed to flicker with annoyance, and Scourge feared he had gone too far. The best he could hope for as punishment for his insolence would be a quick and relatively painless death.

However, when the Emperor spoke again it was not to pass judgment on him.

“You are bold to speak to me in this way,” he stated. “And because you are right, I will reward your initiative … this time. When Nyriss falls, you will be first in line for her seat on the Dark Council.”

“Thank you, Lord Emperor,” Scourge said with a bow.

“If your information proves false, however,” the Emperor added, “you will suffer a fate more terrible than anything you can imagine.”

As he spoke, the dark circles of his eyes seemed to fill with a swirling red mist, and for a brief instant the Emperor gave Scourge a glimpse of his true self.

Scourge cried out in anguish as the Emperor’s mind brushed against his, then he collapsed to the floor, shaking like a child. The touch lasted less than a second, but in that time he witnessed indescribable horrors that dwarfed anything the dark side could conjure even in his worst nightmares. And beneath the formless terrors lurked the unbearable Void, the pure emptiness of total annihilation.

It was over as quickly as it had begun, the awful vision retreating into his subconscious like a repressed memory as Scourge picked himself up off the floor. Neither Captain Yarri nor the robed Sith made any move to help him.

“Come with me,” the captain said once he was on his feet.

Only then did Scourge notice that the Emperor had retaken his seat on the throne, and that the pedestal had spun around to face away from him.

The dark-robed Sith stayed behind as Yarri led Scourge out of the throne room and into the hall beyond.

“I see why you tried to talk me out of this,” Scourge muttered as they made their way back toward the citadel’s main entrance.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

NATHEMA conditions kept up.

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] purged another rebellious Dark Council circa 3950 BBY (9 members in total).

Lord Scourge [Original] disclosed his findings to Revan [Reborn]* and Meetra Surik in a cave:

“What did you find out?” Meetra asked as Revan extended a hand to help her up.

“It wasn’t just Nyriss who was attacked. The Emperor killed them all.”

“The files you showed me listed five current members of the Dark Council plotting against him,” Meetra said, looking to clarify. “Are you saying the Emperor’s Guard wiped out all five in the space of a single day?”

“I said he killed them all,” Scourge replied. “All twelve members of the Dark Council—even those who weren’t part of the conspiracy. He wanted to send a message no one would ever forget.”

“How is that possible?” Revan asked. “He attacked a dozen of the most powerful Sith Lords in their seats of power simultaneously? How many troops does he have?”

“The Imperial Guard were only unleashed on Nyriss and two others. The Emperor must have assumed they were the ones least likely to answer his summons. The other nine were called together in the hours before the attack to meet with the Emperor at his citadel. None of them left alive.”

“So what’s happening now?” Meetra asked.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Revan [Reborn] comfortably defeated a member the Dark Council Darth Nyriss in a confrontation earlier but found Lord Scourge [Original]'s news difficult to digest.

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*Officially counted among the most powerful Force-users in history as far back as in times of Darth Revan:

Some of history's most powerful Force-users trained in the halls of the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. Only students with great potential were admitted, and while the rigorous training produced exceptional Jedi, the fall of several notable students to the dark side cast a pall on the institution's legacy. Exar Kun, Darth Revan, and Darth Malak all trained at the enclave on Dantooine.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne: Codex Entry titled "Jedi Enclave Ruins.")

- defeated Darth Malak on the Star Forge:

"An imposing figure with ghostly pale features, prominent Sith tattoos, a gleaming red lightsaber, and devastating Dark Side power, Malak struck terror into the hearts of his former allies. He also wore a vocal mask that may have concealed a form of cybernetic life-support. Did it provide him with powers far greater than even Exar Kun or Freedon Nadd, or was cybernetic enhancement too simple an explanation?"

From (Star Wars: Wizards of the Coast)

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"You must go now, Revan. The Star Forge feeds the power of your old apprentice. If you do not stop him soon he will become too powerful for even you to stop." - The Elder Council

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Revan then confronted Darth Malak himself in a fierce duel, but Revan prevailed and finally defeated Darth Malak.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

- and was stronger than ever before circa 3950 BBY:

In their last meeting he had overwhelmed Revan completely; it wasn’t even fair to call it a battle. Revan had grown since then. He was far more powerful now, but was he a match for the Emperor?

Alone, probably not. With the combined strength of Meetra, Scourge, and even T3, however, he believed they stood a real chance of victory.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

- and comfortably absorbed and/or deflected a substantial blast of Sith Lightning from a member of the Dark Council Darth Nyriss, utterly destroying her in the process:

A dozen bolts of lightning sprang from Nyriss’s hand, arcing across the room to incinerate her enemies. Instead of leaping back into the cell to avoid the deadly attack, Revan stepped forward to intercept it.

Both hands were held in front of him, his arms fully extended at shoulder height, his thumbs touching and his fingers splayed wide. He drew the bolts of lightning into his waiting grasp, channeling them away from their intended targets and absorbing their power.

“I am Revan reborn,” he said to Nyriss. “And before me you are nothing.”

Nyriss’s eyes went wide as Revan unleashed the power of her own attack against her. She tried to throw up another Force shield, but the bolts ripped it apart and continued on unabated. The lightning engulfed her, the intense heat consuming her instantly, leaving only a pile of charred ash.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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Revan's raw power in the Force bends Nyriss' Sith lightning back at her, utterly destroying the Sith Lord.

From (Star Wars: The Essential Reader's Companion)

- after she brought the duo of Meetra Surik [The Jedi Exile] and Lord Scourge [Original] to their knees in a duel:

Scourge rushed forward, hoping to drive Nyriss back into a corner, but she met his charge with an invisible wave of rippling energy. It picked Scourge up and tossed him head-over-heels, sending him crashing to the wall.

Dazed, he looked up just in time to see another bolt of violet lightning catch Meetra in the chest. Like Nyriss, she threw up a barrier to save herself from the worst of it, but she was still knocked from her feet.

“Did you think I would be as easy to defeat as Xedrix?” Nyriss shouted, raising her lightsaber triumphantly above her head.

The air around her began to crackle and grow hot as she gathered herself for the killing blow. Scourge felt the energy building inside her, and he knew he would be powerless to stop it. Nyriss was too powerful; her command of the dark side was too strong.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Both of them - Meetra Surik [The Jedi Exile] and Lord Scourge [Original] - were accomplished warriors in their own right by now - each had defeated powerful Sith Lords before.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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Independent blog for reference: Revan REVISITED (2020)

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NATHEMA conditions kept up.

Balance of the Force

The Force was omnipresent. It radiated stronger in certain places and at certain times, and the balance of the dark side and the light constantly shifted.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Force-users influence the balance of the Force more then anything else:

More than any others, it is the Force-sensitive beings of the galaxy who have the greatest influence upon the balance of the Force.

From (Star Wars: Force and Destiny: Core Rulebook)

The balance of the Force would continue to shift due to struggles for supremacy between adherents of the Light and Dark respectively:

From (Star Wars: Force and Destiny: Core Rulebook)

The FOREMOST source of imbalance

Revan [Reborn] singled-out Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] as the FOREMOST source of imbalance in the Force at the time:

“The Force always strives for balance. The Emperor is an agent of darkness and destruction. It is inevitable that a champion of the light will one day rise to oppose him. I may be that champion.”

From (Revan, Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

The aforementioned is LOGICAL in view of NATHEMA (refer back to the embodiment of the VOID panel above), and following confession of Darth Plagueis thousands of years later:

While midi-chlorians appeared to resist manipulation of a sort that might imperil the balance of the Force, they remained passive, even compliant, in the case of a weak-willed being manipulated by one who was strong in the Force. Perhaps that explained why it was often easier to call on the Force to heal someone other than oneself.

Extending life, then, could hinge on something as simple as being able to induce midi-chlorians to create new cells; to subdivide at will, increasing their numbers into the tens of thousands to heal or replace damaged, aging, or metastatic cells. Midi-chlorians had to be compelled to serve the needs of the body; to bestow strength when needed; to overcome physical insult, or prevent cells from reaching senescence.

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?

From (Star Wars: Darth Plagueis)

NATHEMA conditions kept up.

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] proved too much for Revan [Reborn] and his new set of allies to handle in a confrontation circa 3950 BBY.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

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The Emperor's Imperial Guard were virtually immune to Force Powers of the Jedi and Sith when at close proximity to him:

Ordinary soldiers would have been chopped down before they could even draw their weapons, but the Imperial Guard were not so easily felled.

The first soldier met her charge and parried the first strike with his electrostaff, the resilient metal of his weapon deflecting the energy blade of the Jedi off to the side so that it carved a deep scar in the wall.

The second soldier leapt into the fray, forcing Meetra to fall back a step to absorb their coordinated attack. Slightly farther away, Scourge and Captain Yarri were also already engaged in close-quarters combat, his lightsaber clashing against her electrostaff as they battled in the narrow confines of the entrance hall.

An alarm began to ring out in the hall, triggered by one of the other three soldiers. Before they could join in the fight, Revan thrust his hand, palm up, in the direction of the sealed durasteel doors, blasting them wide open with the power of the Force.

“Into the throne room!” he shouted, rushing forward.

One of the guards battling Meetra broke off and tried to cut Revan off. The Jedi gathered himself and leapt high in the air, tucking his knees in tight to somersault over his opponent. The guard reacted to the unexpected move a fraction too slowly, his electrostaff slicing through the air above his head and missing Revan by only a few centimeters.

Revan landed on the ground and wheeled around to face the other man. He thrust out with the Force, the impact hitting the soldier square in the chest. Instead of sending him flying, it only staggered him back half a step—this close to the Emperor they were sworn to protect, the guards were able to draw on his power to protect themselves.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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Repeated attempts on the LIFE of Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] made him re-evaluate his options and he continued to bring more individuals under his spell with new techniques in passing years.

"Remember that all those who have direct access to the Emperor—the Emperor’s Voice, the Emperor’s Hand, the soldiers in the Imperial Guard—are under his spell. Breaking that spell, turning his most loyal followers against him, is our best chance of defeating him and saving the Empire from his mad plan to attack the Republic."

From (Darth Nyriss, Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Sith Lightning

Offensive application

Called "Sith lightning," these charges cause excruciating pain and weaken life, and it is a challenge for even the most powerful Jedi Masters to deflect such bursts.

From (Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide)

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] was frighteningly proficient in the application of Sith Lightning.

EXAMPLE 1 - versus Revan [Reborn]

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] mortally wounded Revan [Reborn] with a swirling storm of lightning bolts. Revan [Reborn] would have perished in the ordeal but his companion droid T3-M4 intervened on time:

Revan knew he was gathering his power to unleash a swirling storm of pure dark side energy, just as Nyriss had done. The Jedi quickly calculated his options. Realizing he couldn’t close the gap between them quickly enough to stop the assault, he gathered his own energy and spread his hands before him, ready to catch and absorb the Emperor’s attack.

A dozen bolts of purple lightning arced from the Emperor toward him. Revan tried to draw them in and contain them, but the Emperor was infinitely more powerful than Darth Nyriss had ever been.

Revan's body was engulfed in agony as the electricity coursed through his body. His skin began to boil and blister, the flesh of his face melting and sticking to the superheated metal of his mask as the Emperor poured more and more power into him.

Through the haze of indescribable pain, he saw T3-M4 rushing in to help him. The droid let loose with his flamethrower, bathing the Emperor in fire. At the last instant the Emperor cocooned himself in the Force to save himself from being incinerated, breaking his focus on Revan.

The Jedi collapsed to the ground, burned but still alive, the hilt of his extinguished lightsaber lying on the floor less than a meter beyond his grasp.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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Telekinesis

Spectrum of applications

While fending off Revan [Reborn] in the confrontation, Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] demonstrated incredible proficiency in Telekinetics.

EXAMPLE 1 - versus Revan [Reborn]

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] swept Revan [Reborn] off his feet and sent him flying backward across the hall:

AS MEETRA AND SCOURGE BATTLED the Guard, Revan charged toward the Emperor.

His opponent stood perfectly still, focusing and channeling his power. At the last possible instant, the Emperor unleashed a wave of energy that swept Revan off his feet and sent him flying backward.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

EXAMPLE 2 - versus T3-M4

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] disintegrated T3-M4 in single attempt:

Almost too weak to move, Revan managed to raise his head just in time to see the Emperor turn on the brave little astromech. A tremor rippled through the air as the Emperor unleashed the full power of the Force against the defenseless droid.

T3 never stood a chance. The little droid exploded into a million pieces, internal circuits and external casing obliterated in a single instant.

“No!” Revan screamed from the ground as bits of his friend rained down on him in the form of unrecognizable shrapnel.

He tried to rise, but his injured body refused to respond. Instinctively, he called on the Force to give him strength and heal his wounds.

The Emperor was approaching him with calm, purposeful steps. Once he reached Revan’s side he calmly bent down and picked up the Jedi’s fallen weapon, igniting the blade.

The healing properties of the Force were powerful, but Revan’s wounds were severe and he needed more time to restore his strength. Helpless, he could only stare up at the Emperor as he raised the lightsaber to deliver the killing blow.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

T3-M4 had served both Revan and Meetra Surik in the course of their respective journeys and was armored to the extent of withstanding much punishment in the face of dangers - he withstood a blast of power from Darth Nyriss earlier which was just as potent as the structure breaching shot from a cannon:

As they scrambled to their feet, T3 let out what could only be described as a shriek of terror. An instant later, the little astromech came tumbling down the stairs and bounced across the floor as if he’d been shot from a cannon. He landed in the corner on his back, his wheels still spinning.

“Get Revan out of the way,” Scourge said to Meetra.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

EXAMPLE 3 - versus Lord Scourge [Original]

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] immobilized Lord Scourge [Original]'s Lightsaber attack mid-air:

The Sith Lord raised his lightsaber to deliver the coup de grâce. He brought his arm down, but it suddenly stopped as if an invisible and impossibly strong hand had seized his wrist. He glanced back at the Emperor in surprise.

“Put away your blade. You have passed the test,” the Emperor said. “But Revan can still be of use to me.”

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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Drain Life Essence

Related to Force Drain

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] demonstrated the ability to siphon the life energy of his subject(s) from lightyears distances once again:

REVAN COULD FEEL THE EMPEROR FEEDING ON HIM, drawing on his power to sate his endless hunger. Though the two were physically separated by a dozen parsecs, there was still an unbreakable mental link, fashioned by the Emperor and sustained by the infernal machines powering the cell.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Related information in the following companion blog: Tenebrae/Vitiate/Valkorion - DARK SCIENCES

Revan [Reborn] could replenish himself courtesy of the Force spirit of Meetra Surik in turn:

Meetra could sense his suffering. When she had died, she had not become one with the Force. Loyal to the end, her spirit had remained with Revan, an invisible presence hovering just outside his cell.

She couldn’t speak with him; whatever arcane Sith sorcery the Emperor had used to bind Revan in his cell made that impossible. She doubted Revan was even aware she was there. Yet even though she couldn’t communicate with him, she was able to offer aid and support, her power trickling through the energy barrier that surrounded him, a lifeline he could cling to in the dark ocean of his imprisonment.

As the Emperor fed off him, Meetra was allowing Revan to feed off her. Her sustenance strengthened his resolve whenever he grew weak, refreshing and restoring him so he could continue his never-ending mental war.

Because of her, Revan was able to do more than just fight to keep the Emperor at bay.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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Lord Scourge [Original]'s Force vision of the confrontation with Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] in which he does not betray his Jedi allies for reference:

Revan lay motionless on the floor of the Citadel’s throne room. Meetra and Scourge lay beside him, their bodies twisted and broken, clinging to the last moments of life.

The Emperor approached the trio, regarding them with a cold and casual contempt as he loomed above his fallen adversaries. Scourge tried to stand and flee, but his crippled limbs wouldn’t support his weight. All he could do was crawl on his belly like a worm.

His efforts drew the attention of the Emperor, who didn’t speak but came over and lowered himself to one knee. He grabbed Scourge by the shoulder and rolled him over so he was staring up into the twin voids of the Emperor’s eyes.

As he reached out a hand and placed it on Scourge’s forehead, the Sith began to scream.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

Lord Source [Original] slowly but surely realized that Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] is undefeatable and that he should bide his time and find another way to stop this being.

The Force washed over him in a wave, and a million possible futures flickered through his mind simultaneously. In some the Emperor was no more; in others he had transformed the entire galaxy into an empty wasteland. He saw both Revan’s triumph and defeat in the throne room; he saw variations of his own life and death played out over and over in every conceivable way, shape, and form.

He had to choose, but there was no way to know which was the most likely outcome, or what actions of his would lead to which results. Revan had said visions could guide the Jedi, but for Scourge they brought nothing but confusion.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

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The Emperor’s power is too much for Revan. Recognizing that the Emperor is undefeatable, Scourge kills Meetra and betrays Revan.

From (Star Wars: The Essential Reader's Companion)

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Scourge had eagerly accepted, knowing his new position would give him both time and opportunity to find another way to stop Emperor Vitiate before his madness and hunger consumed the galaxy.

"Open yourself to the dark side," the Emperor said, and Scourge felt the air around him begin to swirl with power.

Betraying his allies had not altered the inevitable outcome; the Emperor would have won regardless. At least this way Scourge was still alive to carry on their cause.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan)

NATHEMA conditions kept up.

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] was exploring the most sinister and uncharted depths of the dark side:

Over the centuries of the Empire's exile, the Emperor continued to develop his power base and guard and unseen threats. In his relentless pursuit of immortality, the Emperor explored the most sinister and uncharted depths of the dark side. The devastating cost of his actions would remain a mystery in years to come.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

- and unlocked another method to prolong his LIFE in the process:

The Voice is the mouthpiece through which the Emperor delivers his orders. This possessed being sacrifices all consciousness to become a hollow vessel for the Emperor. Over the centuries, the Emperor has taken many Voices from young children to alien species. When the Voice speaks, it does so with the Emperor's cold, emotionless, and commanding tone. The Voice also wields the Emperor's incredible power and is capable of striking down anyone who displeases him. Those who converse with the Voice are overwhelmed with dread and unshakable obedience. To speak with the Voice is to speak with the Emperor himself.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Transfer Life

Esoteric application*

From (Book of Sith, Secrets from the Dark Side)

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This power allows character to transfer his or her life energy into another body. The key to immortality itself, this is one of the most difficult and evil of all dark side powers. To overcome a spirit already residing in a body is nearly impossible. This is why the power is nearly useless without the ability to clone host bodies. Though theoretically possible, it is not yet known what the effect on an unborn fetus would be. Fortunately, there is almost no history of this power being used successfully. It is believed that if the user’s body perishes as an attempt fails, the user’s life energy is lost, dispersed to the void.

From (Star Wars - D6 - Force Powers)

CONTROL difficulty = Heroic

SENSE difficulty = Heroic

ALTER difficulty** = Easy (cloned body); Moderate (recent dead body); Difficult (willing living being); Heroic (unwilling living being)

Force Powers required to execute successfully:

Absorb/dissipate energy - Accelerate healing - Control pain - Emptiness - Detoxify poison - Hibernation trance - Reduce injury - Remain conscious - Resist stun - Life detection - Life sense - Magnify senses - Receptive telepathy - sense Force - Telekinesis - Injure/kill - Farseeing - Projective telepathy - Receptive telepathy - Accelerate another's healing - Control another's pain - Feed on dark side - Inflict pain - Return another to consciousness - Dim another's senses - Transfer Force - Affect mind

From (Star Wars - D6 - Force Powers)

The description of said Force Power is self-explanatory in regards to how challenging it is for any Force-user to master it in absolute terms - to the point of successful application on living beings. Other D6 sourcebooks converge on this part and theme (Star Wars - D6 - The Dark Empire Sourcebook; Star Wars - D6 - Tales of the Jedi Companion)

Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] created his FIRST VOICE in another living being at some point after his second confrontation with Revan [Reborn] circa 3950 BBY:

The Emperor created his first Voice after the legendary Jedi named Revan attempted to assassinate him on Dromund Kaas. Though Revan's plot failed, he approached within striking distance of the Emperor. To guard against further vulnerability, the Emperor created the Voice to deliver his orders while distancing himself from the forces that conspired against him. Centuries later, this very safeguard would save the Emperor once more.

From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia)

Subject - Valkorion

"I found Valkorion centuries ago. He was a great warrior. A champion of ancient Zakuul. It was only natural I hollow him out to use as my vessel. I saw potential in the primitive world, so I raised it to perfection."

Tenebrae [Valkorion] explain to The Alliance Commander what he did to the original living being named Valkorion <- CLICK to CHECK

NOTE: Valkorion was a native of ZAKUUL and had no affiliation to the Sith and Tenebrae [The Sith Emperor] by extension, and nothing suggest that he was willing to allow the latter to hollow him out.