[Why did obsisdian remove all Xbox Live features]

Not bothering me one single bit. Obsidian has been straight with us about it, told us there won't be any live content and that's better than Bioware did.

 

Bioware had us waiting around for nothing.

[From Realtime to TSL Turn Based Play?]

Man, your fan fiction was great!

 

Thanks, but it looks like Obsidian is heading in a different direction and I'm looking forward to it.

 

I was so certain that the references to "Room of a Thousand Fountains" and other references to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant meant that they were being worked into the game, but when the official site finally went up, all references to Coruscant had been removed. I pretty much got the message after that.

 

We still get the Ebon Hawk, so there's no chance of DS players getting the chance to stroll the command deck of their own Sith Destroyer.

 

 

Revan is a significant presense in the game and that is one element that I'm glad they followed through on.

 

XBox Live Downloads have been tossed a 2nd time. This really doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would. With KOTOR1 Bioware just has us all waiting around for the longest wondering when the downloadable content would arrive, so it was a HUGE let down. The people at Obsidian are being straight with us from the beginning and I respect that. Xbox gamers know not to hold their breath for something they know isn't going to arrive.

 

The introduction of a Zabrak is cool if he can actually become a Jedi. I'm not worried about that either. When PC gamers get their hands on it he will probably be swinging a lightsaber even if he is a non Jedi character.

 

 

It's too soon to get excited about planet levels. The locations sound interesting. I only hope they compare to that feeling I got when I was on Taris for the very first time. Metting Bastilla, Mission and Zalbaar for the first time, hearing the sad story of the outcasts living in the bowels of the planet and then helping them escape their plight. And of course the feeling of accomplishment when you escape the planet's destruction and set down on Dantooine and the Jedi Enclave. Each planet with the single exception of Mannaan gave me that feeling. Mannaan was not only boring, but Sith were walking around everywhere insulting you and even telling jokes to your face when you tell them you were Revan. I did like the court trial it was a nice diveresion from an otherwise sleeply planet level. Here's to hoping we get another shot at the court.

 

Atton doesn't "appear" to be a whiner. There have been all kinds of homosexual references to him in various threads here. Looks like some people think Atton will be the "Juhani" of TSL.

 

I wished we had got some info on some voice talent and some wavs of the games soundtrack that being scored by a full orchestra.

 

This could be the longest week for any of us around here. Here's to hoping that all the interest that we have invested in this forum and this game title is worth it.

[What's on your Hard Drive?]

I only have a 200GB HD.

 

Mostly strategy games.

[From Realtime to TSL Turn Based Play?]

Welcome back! 

 

A lot of has a happened since you were gone.

 

ThanX! Nice to be back! And I know, I'm in a serious game of catch up with everything.

 

I'm dissappointed about there not being any Coruscant in the game, but I'm sure Obsidian has worked out something cool in the way of a Jedi Base in the game.

 

I didn't finish my speculation on Coruscant once that fact started to set in. It didn't seem right to use the forum for fan fiction because without speculation that's all that it was.

 

But the possibility of training others in the force is just too great to feel glum over Coruscant not being there.

[From Realtime to TSL Turn Based Play?]

i think whats harder is going from turn based to real time, try playing halfway through ninja gaiden then quitting for a couple months of kotor then come back! im absolutely horrible at it now, i'll never finish that damn game.

 

 

I know that feeling. TSL seems like there is going to be so much going on when you aren't fighting that when combat does come up it will be delicious. At least that's the picture I'm getting from all of these previews and spoilers.

 

Speaking of which, I'm just going to avoid the rest of the spoilers. I don't want to steal away my "I'm your father" moment. There are spoilers, and then there is game play ruin.

 

I probably won't come back here after Dec 6th untill I have beaten the game at least once.

 

I have no idea what the PC gamers are going to do. They have a longer wait. They should just avoid the outside world and go into hermitage.

[From Realtime to TSL Turn Based Play?]

In KOTOR1 I engaged in very little melee combat late in the game. I'd hit enemies with Insanity, Force Wave, and Death Field. Most dropped after a few turns.

 

 

Early in the game you HAVE to enage in melee combat.

 

 

As for Halo2, I'm just going to have to stop playing this week to get myself out of that whole Halo mode.

[From Realtime to TSL Turn Based Play?]

So you think kotor2 will be too slow for you bcs of halo 2 and fable. Why were you playing fable?

 

Why? There's an interesting question.

 

The difference in the freedom of movement during combat is the thing I will probably have to get used to, but I'm not anticipating it to be a huge problem after I "get into" the game.

 

Fable has this one move called "Assassin's Rush" I used this move so much that I barely had to block attacks. Standing there and waiting your turn to be hit will be something that I will have to make an adjustment for.

[Bao-Dur (Spoilers)]

I'd prefer to have Ragnos in my team. His horns are much bigger.

 

Hmmmm, and I always thought that was just a helmet or some kind of crown. Oh well, you learn something you didn't know before about SW all the time.

[From Realtime to TSL Turn Based Play?]

I've been playing Fable and Halo2 quite heavily and I wonder if I'm going to be the only one who suffers from a little "turn-based let down?

 

I popped in KOTOR1 recently and it felt slow compared to these other games. I'm so used to taking out opponents with one swing of my blade or one shot from my guns that it frustrated me slightly that the lightsaber is such a weak weapon early on in the game.

 

I don't want lightning fast duels mind you, but the non Jedi opponents can take a lightsaber hit and keep coming at you. In Fable you could roll out of the way or block ttacks. In KOTOR I did enjoy the effects of blocking blaster fire, but you could still suffer considerable damage in melee combat situations.

 

 

I guess I really should stop playing these other games with KOTOR2 so close to release now.

[KOTOR II: How to Talk Dirty and Influence People]

I have to agree with all of you on this. The story is clearly going to drive the game and influence will produce the greatest outcome LS or DS.

[Spoilers]

Or some people realise that using non jedi is a waste of time.

 

 

I found the non Jedi characters to be very handy. Loading one character down with security or computer skills proved very useful to me.

[Spoilers]

I wouldn't worry too much about what you are reading in magazines right now. Take it all with a grain. There were very misleading reviews and previews of KOTOR1 just before it's release.

 

The reason for this is simple. They were all playing incomplete versions of the game.

 

Try not to get too worked uo about it. The best secrets and suprises will most likely be well hidden.

 

I mean the Prima Guide is even in lock down to keep people from leaking.

[Spoilers]

The creator and all contributers to this thread must now die.

 

Don't take it personal, but I will be arriving at all of your homes soon.

 

Don't try to fight it, there's nothing any of you can do.

[R.I.P. HK-47]

 

He's definately a different HK. I hope it has a different voice, something deeper maybe, even though the last voice was ok in my book.

[New article]

Indeed.

[Sith Lords Plot Points based on Info and Updates]

Well Admiral, if Revan is the Dark Lord then your theory lines up perfectly.

 

The lightside Revan would have to have a more personal reason to explain his 5 year absence. The story from the lightside perspective is the most difficult because you have all of these tons of unanswered questions.

 

Where did these new Sith Lords come from? What happened to Bastilla, Jolee, Juhani, Yuthura, Carth, Vandar, and the rest of the crew from the Ebon Hawk?

 

The darkside ending to KOTOR is simple. Everyone dies except Revan, and any number of reasons could explain the 5 year absence. Especially if Revan is our skull faced Dark Lord with a new identity.

[Sith Lords Plot Points based on Info and Updates]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

CONTINUED SPECULATION

 

 

On Korriban, in the living, breathing darkness of THE DARK LORD'S sanctum, kneeled the Sith Assassin Bastilla. Her eyes flared fiercely with yellow fire under the shadow of the hood of her cloak.

 

Before her stood.............NIHILUS, MASTER OF THE SITH, THE DARK LORD. He really didn't need a name, or a title for that matter. He was..... what he was. To her his name added unnecessary pretention, or even insult. No name in Basic was subtible for him, and if she were to give him a name it would have to be feelings rather than words, or perhaps expressions. He was INTIMIDATION, DEATH, WRATH, and POWER.....RAW POWER.

 

Unmatched, unchecked.

 

Bastilla had to summon the courage to raise her head and face her Master. Reigning back her fear, she meet her Master's face in an intense gaze.

 

With her eyes locked in that gaze, she was suprised to find herself yet again stunned by the "person" she called Master. As always he seemed incontestable, un-approachable, impenetrable. His eyes piercing through hollow sockets of bone, ablazed with furious cunning and burning intelligence, watching her with deep curious interest. The gaze spied behind a skeletal mask of unimaginable malevolence. Two streaks of dark blood halved by a fine ornament of metal that was fastened to the hood of his dark robes. Though she had never inquired who the skull once belonged to, she could only imagine that it came from an "unwilling party"

 

With long dark robes his appearence was that of a Reaper, which only complimented his surroundings as the sanctum was in fact a tomb. Tall, massive and rising better than 7ft, the Dark Lord was a giant of a man. If a man is what he could be called. Bastilla had never sensed any "humanity" in him, just great power firmly rooted in darkness. His movements were effortless and graceful, but like that of a wild predatory beast, not human at all. Forever stalking. And she never saw his feet touch the ground. His robes were long but never dragged the floor. It was as if his robes were animated with some intelligence of their own. They ebbed and swayed when there was no air to guide them. They whipped around and behind him when he moved, giving the illusion of gliding instead of walking. Finally, he had a dark aura about him, like a lamp that shed darkness rather than light.

 

Bastilla had come to know Lord Nihilus over the years. Despite his awesome presense he was nothing like what a Master of the Sith was supposed to be. He always spoke in an even tone. He never threatened or engaged in loud outbursts. He never boasted of his own power, he didn't need to. Those who called him Master followed him with unquestionable loyalty.

 

He was a fountain of knowledge that she was encouraged to drink from at will. When a question was asked, it was answered with patient and exhaustive detail. His manner could almost be seen as "fatherly"....almost. And though twisted, The Dark Lord even displayed a sense of humor from time to time. All of these things only made him more mysterious to Bastilla, and she wondered if she would ever understand who the Dark Lord really was.

 

Lord Nihilus had never broken her training before. Unlike her training as a Jedi, her training in the Sith way was very independent. The intense lessons and dangerous trials given by The Master required time and seclusion to be completed. This had always worked to Bastilla's benefit as her training had been a secret. She had always been aware of Sion though he knew nothing of her existance. As with many Dark Lords before him, The Master had chosen to train another apprentice in secret. There could only be a few reasons that would prompt a Dark Lord to train another while his current apprentice still lived. Treachery or failure.

 

Since joining the Sith, Bastilla had been a tool of The Master following the years of the Jedi Civil War. Unlike Sion and Revan before him who openly attacked the Jedi and the Republic, Bastilla operated in stealth from the shadows. Under the dark teachings of the Master her skills progressed with lethal distinction. After more than 5 years there were vacant seats in the Galactic Senate, and a private collection of Jedi lightsabers to prove Bastilla's menacing prowress.

 

She wasn't completely oblivious to the reasons why The Master had called her. She could feel it. In truth, all Sith could feel it. The Force. Titanic disturbances. Moving, shifting, expanding like a gathering storm. And all the elements and origins of the tempest rooted in the Light.

 

You summoned me Master?

 

Indeed I have my apprentice

 

Though the voice boomed with deep power it's tone was casual.

 

Sion has failed.

 

Yes Master.

 

There are serious consequences for his failure. Enough to compel us to bring this foolish rivalry between the other Sith Lords to an end. I want all hostilities to cease immediately. There will order among the Sith.

 

Of course, it will be as you command Master.

 

You are to take command of the First Fleet, the Sith Masters and all of their elite forces. You will then arrange a convocation between the other Sith Lords and the cabals under their control. Except no refusals to this gathering.

 

The Dark Lord gently lifts his hand and 3 holocrons rise from their pedestals.

 

Have these presented to the 3 Sith Lords. You should then have very little difficulty in assembling them.

 

And if there is resistance?

 

This insurrection among the Sith Lords has cost me time, and now will claim a great asset. I will not tolerate this any further. In truth I have allowed it for too long because it once served my purpose. It is no longer useful to me and if it continues it will indirectly aid the Jedi and the Republic. No my apprentice, this ends now. Any defiance of my will must be met with the most swift and severe punishment.

 

Understood Master. If I may enquire, Lord Sion........the Jedi?

 

Sion is of no longer a concern of ours....Lord Bastilla.

 

 

She remained expressionless but could barely control her inner excitement. She was now a Lord of the Sith, the pinnicle of the dark order. But just as quickly as her excitement had risen it had fallen. Sion's failures were greater that she first believed, and the Jedi were now clearly a greater threat because of it.

 

The Jedi have returned. The Force is strong with them.

 

The fledgling is no longer alone?

 

The number of Jedi does not matter. The fact that Sion could not eliminate them does.

 

I will not fail you Master. These Jedi will be destroyed!

 

The Dark Lord grinds his teeth in dissappointment.

 

You would not be the first one to tell that Lie Bastilla. Considering that it was once your task to find "the traitor"

 

Not the reaction she expected. She was more stunned than frightened by it, but it quickly made sense. Revan, Sion, who knew how many others there were? If she agreed with him that would be the same as admiting to future failure. If she disagreed she would perhaps offend the Dark Lord. Her next response would have to be carefully spoken. If she erred she knew that she wouldn't have long to regret it.

 

How did these others fail you Master?

 

 

The Dark Lord releases a deep breath before answering.

 

Where to begin? It is not so much a failure as much as it is a misunderstanding. The first and most common of these misunderstandings is that the Jedi are weak. And yet how could they be? They command the Force as we do. If the Jedi are weak then so is the Force.

 

Yes Master.

 

But do you really understand my apprentice? Like the Jedi we have our own beliefs, our own history, and our own prophesies by which we seek to explain our own existance and place in the galaxy. We have our heroes and cowards. We have our loyalists and our traitors just as the Jedi do. Over the years I have unearthed a number of ancient artifacts revealing the grand history of our order. Though there are some inconsistancies I believe these ancient sources can be trusted. That being said, the sources have forced me to come to some rather troubling conclusions about our Order. A disturbing paradox if you will.

 

What did you find Master?

 

 

That it is at the greatest heights of the reign of the Sith, that we are most vunerable. That it is when the Jedi stand on the brink of extinction, they are most powerful.

 

Bastilla is clearly disturbed by what The Master is saying.

 

I can see this troubles you apprentice. That is good. I have had many apprentices, none were students of caution, and I am weary. Many new students of the darkside, myself at one time included, revel in thought of wielding absolute power without understanding what it is. The power of the darkside is a strange gift my apprentice. It must first be mastered before it can fully be used. It requires patience and sacrifice, more than most are willing to surrender.

 

I am ready for whatever sacrifice is necessary. I will do as you command Master.

 

But of course you will my apprentice. For the moment you still fear death at my hand. Fear binds you to me, and when that fear has passed you will seek to overthrow me. If you do you would have earned it, but will the Sith be made stronger because of it? Will you?

 

Master, I don't understand. You speak of sacrifice and fear, but the code teaches us that our passions fuel our strength....

 

Fear is not a passion apprentice. This is what I am trying to teach you. You must control your fear before you are able to understand the sacrifice that is needed to master the darkside. You must lose your fear of all things. Even me. As a Jedi you once understand this. This is why Sion has failed. He failed to understand that the Jedi are willing to sacrifice their lives so that their Order will survive. If only the Sith could understand this as a Jedi's strength.

 

I do not mean to offend Master, but you sound like an...admirer.

 

The sanctum is suddenly filled with the Dark Lord's deep laughter.

 

No predator should ever have a lack of respect for it's prey, least of all the Jedi. I shouldn't have to remind you of that Lord Bastilla.

 

If you are refering to "the traitor", I haven't been able to locate him. I know longer can feel his presense in the Force. It is as if he.....

 

I know the traitor and he knows me. He knows the darkside and how to best conceal himself from it. He will be found when he wants to be found. But this isn't about him. This about you and the task that I have set before you.

 

He is still very dangerous Master. You would wait until he confronts you at a time of his own choosing?

 

Why not? What else can I do? None of us knows where he is. Shall we waste time and resources on a fruitless search for someone who knows how to hide from us? Allow the self destructive struggle between the Sith to escalate into a full blown war while the Jedi seek to rebuild their broken Order? Shall I languish in uncertainty? No my apprentice. Despite being who he is, the traitor is not the immediate danger. Master the darkside Bastilla, and you will understand that even the return of the traitor can be used to our advantage.

 

And if he should join the Jedi?

 

 

Despite the failures of Sion, they still lead their lives under the constant threat of death. Nothing has changed, they are still the hunted. The survivors went where we could not follow, or should not. Sion is about to learn this. He pursues the Jedi in a place where the Force is strongest for them.

 

Coruscant!

 

 

It matters not. The survivors cannot remain on Coruscant forever. They know that for their Order to expand they must reach out to train others strong in the Force, and that will serve our purpose. The Jedi also realize that they can run no further. Like cornered animals they will now turn and fight.

 

Bastilla understood the meaning behind The Master's words. Time was no more of an ally to the Sith as it was to the Jedi. The Jedi were now moving quickly to rebuild their Order and aid the Republic. Bastilla Shan the Jedi Knight once served the Republic. She once knew the determination of the Jedi Order and it's fanatical devotion to the Republic. Bastilla the Sith understood perhaps better than anyone among the Sith that even ONE Jedi Knight was one Jedi too many. That as long as the Jedi lived, conquest of the galaxy would always be just beyond the grasp of the Sith.

 

 

Bastilla knew that the traitor was always a threat that lingered on, but he was in hiding. A man tortured by a flood of his own returning memories, he didn't want to be found by the Sith or the Jedi. Bastilla remembered the quest they went on together to learn more about the true Dark Lord. She remembers how the more they learned, the more he reviled the memory of The Dark Lord, but the more she learned the more she became intrigued. As the journey went on it became more difficult to hide her interest from him and the others, the old man and Cathar.

 

The traitor loved her, and at one time she thought she loved him as well. But she quickly understood that the only lust she felt was one for power. If he was so powerful then imagine how powerful the Master who trained him must be. The old man and the Cathar not blinded by any emotional attachment could see more clearly that she was turning right in front of them. When they started raising concerns about her a terrible "accident" took place on the Ebon Hawk that took both their lives. The traitor knew none of it made sense, but he refused to believe the worst about her.

 

Next his trusty droids began to malfunction, especially the annoying protocal droid that doubled as his bodyguard and took to standing over his sleeping body after the "accident" All warnings about her from the protocal droid went ignored, and soon the droid was rendered useless in one more unexplained "accident" aboard the Ebon Hawk. The Hawk was now crippled and adrift with only it's escape pods functioning. With life support failing the two had no choice but to abandon their vessel. Bastilla suddenly turned on the traitor as the plan was to kill him and jettison his body from the Hawk. A duel ensued. The traitor refused to adequetely defend himself from her as he pathetically pleaded for her to turn from the darkside. Bastilla had beaten the traitor to the point of death, and then decided it was a better plan to take his beaten body to The Dark Lord as a gift to gain his favor. She knew where the Dark Lord was now. She had known for longest. But as she gathered supplies for the long trek through space the small repair droid saved it's master's life by dragging his body into one of the pods and sending it out in space.

 

As she went to her new destination in her own pod, she could only wonder if the saving of his life was an intervention by the Force. This wasn't the first time the traitor survived a near death encounter. In fact she had been the instrument of his first resurrection. Again, the Force was with him.

 

It was the last time she had seen of the traitor, but she knew he wasn't dead. She searched in vain for him until the Dark Lord had told her to give up on the quest. Her training with The Master had begun. She helped hunt down Jedi, murder key Senators in the Republic, and sabotage diplomatic missions. The Jedi, the woman Bastilla Shan, daughter of Helena Shan who was dead or dying somewhere in a Coruscant hospital(she no longer cared which) was gone.

 

She often imagined the traitor still a dying man drifting in space, still broken hearted over her turn to the darkside. That thought gave her intense pleasure and she was forced to moments of uncontrollable laughter when she lingered on it. But that was only the one half of it.

 

The other half was FEAR. Fear of the man who killed the galaxy's most feared bounty hunter, killed Darth Bandon, cleansed the Sith Academy single handedly before running a dangerous gauntlet of Sith on the Star Forge, overpowering her and then finally in a contest that ended in the destruction of Malak and the Star Forge. She had witnessed these things herself. If one thought gave her pleasure, the other thought was sending chills through her spine. As if she could at times feel the traitor pacing back and forth on a grave dug just for her. He was just waiting for her to lay down in it.

 

Then there was the Force. It seemed to be screaming in rebellion against the Sith as of late. The disturbances were powerful and constant. Something was happening and it all centered around the Jedi. If the traitor still lived and she knew he did, he of course felt the same disturbances in the Force. It might even compel him to come out of hiding. That was a disturbing thought.

 

 

But now The Master was admonishing that she shed her fear. That she couldn't begin to master the darkside until she learned control of it.

 

 

And these sacrifices you speak of Master?

 

A true Lord of the Sith cannot be concerned with death or punishment in this existance. When a Sith Lord dies we will learn all there is to know about death and punishment. Why agonize over that which we will understand fully in it's proper time?

 

A Sith Lord replaces every need whether it be emotional or physical with the darkside of the Force. The darkside..... No! We will not begin this lesson this way. Come with me apprentice.

 

Bastilla rises from the floor and follows The Dark Lord out of the main hall of his sanctum and into a private chamber. The chamber of course was another tomb like all the other chambers in the ancient structure. Korriban was an endless Valley of Sith Dead. What was on the surface was not always what it appeared to be. There were giant monuments on Korriban that contained only modest sized burial rooms. Then there were small cave gaps that once entered opened out into colossal labyrinths of tombs and chambers. The Dark Lord's sanctum was one of these labyrinths.

 

Inside The Dark Lord's private chamber was an archive filled with ancient scrolls, manuscripts, holo books, and Sith artifacts.

 

 

Listen carefully apprentice, I will never repeat these things to you again. Ever. It has taken me most of what I now laughingly refer to as my life to unearth these ancient objects you see before you. Each artifact has it's own peculiar story, and there is an even more peculiar story behind the way each artifact came into my possession. Too many stories to tell actually, but if I were to attempt to tell them all they would reveal that your Master has spent most of his (chucke)"life" as a librarian rather than in battle.

 

Knowledge is it's own power Master.

 

You're too kind apprentice, but the truth though simple is what it is. I am not ashamed. Your Master began his journey as a simple librarian on a planet too insignificant to mention. I had an uneventful childhood that would be considered uncommonly happy by most standards. Two dull witted loving parents that were devoted to each other and provided me the perfect example of family and all of it's preposterous traditions. I had 3 siblings who were as equally drugged as my parents on their farcical notions of family and morality. I wouldn't bore you with the details of my meritless rise to adulthood, but for a time I lived as men do. I married a beautiful but simple minded woman of no universal importance. I cared for her with all the tender and gentle effection of a groom in the spring of marriage. We had two children, a boy and a girl, and we lived the typical galactic lie that has captivated trillions of inept souls across the stars for millenia.

 

I was an archaeologist and worked as chief archivist in the planet's historical archives. I was also a teacher and a scholar who brainwashed youth with dilluted historical data about our planet's worthless existance. At one time I even demonstrated the most sad ambition to run for Senate to represent the feeble-minded views of our world to an even more hapless Republic. I tell you my apprentice, if someone had invented a weapon capable of destroying an entire planet then I would gladly volunteer my homeworld to test fire that weapon. The galaxy already has an abundance of fools and my homeworld would not be missed.

 

My children were not particularly gifted, but I took a father's pride in even their most meager achievements. I associated with people who shared the same common views that my wife and I shared. I attended the excessive gatherings of family and friends, celebrated birthdays, observed holidays with respect and exchanged meaningless gifts and tokens of vain effection when the opportunity presented itself.

 

On the surface I was a happy man, but underneath that veil was a being longing for freedom. Freedom from the man I had become more than the life he lived with his so called loved ones. Through all the hugs and kisses that my wife and children smothered me with I asked the burning question..........Isn't there more than this?

 

And then one day I left them. Just like that. There was nothing different about the day I left. It began like any other morning, except this time I walked out the front door and didn't return. I hadn't planned it, didn't pack anything, didn't even take any needed personal belongings such as indentification. I didn't even take enough credits to get me off planet. I stowed away on a cruiser as I recall. I didn't even know where the ship was going and I didn't care. All I know is that I felt an amazing sense of freedom. It would take me some years to realize that I walked away from more than my family and my homeworld. I walked away from something I no longer needed or desired........... my humanity.

 

I could not tell you what became of the woman and the children she and I concieved. I can barely recall their names and faces. I had never felt them through the Force, nor did I ever have a desire to know them through the Force. I could not tell you how they lived or died, and since it is more than likely that I outlived them, I can say honestly that I wouldn't be able to force a single tear from my eyes to mourn their passing or honor that they had ever existed.

 

I cannot recall acurately the years that followed. They were not important, neither were the people I encountered in my travels. All that matters was the day I arrived on Korriban. It could have been viewed as an accident, but there are no accidents in the Force. Always remember that apprentice. I was traveling through the sector when my ship's hyperdrive gave out. Having no choice but to land for repairs I landed here. I had heard the stories of smugglers and transport captains, they avoided this part of space. All believed the planet to be haunted with ghosts, and there were enough real incidents of death and dissappearences to keep the curious at bay.

 

Now I should confess this apprentice. I did not believe in the Force in those days. I had heard of the heroics of the Jedi, and their strange powers, but had theorized as many have done that the Jedi's powers could be explained through science, not a mystical energy. Oh how I find my own lack of faith in those days most amusing! While my repair droid worked on the ship I decided to scout around and see some of the majestic ruins that filled Korriban's landscape. I felt my one noble calling as a historian and an archaeologist longing to examine the ruins, but even I knew the danger of entering old ruins.

 

As the Force would have it, a violent sand storm began. Since I was too far from my ship I was "forced", ironic isn't it? Yes, forced to take shelter in one of the nearby tombs. It was there in the darkness of a tomb I met the powerful spirit that would set me free and complete my journey.

 

 

Who was he Master?

 

She never gave me a name to call her by, and in truth she didn't need one. Her name is mentioned nowhere in the Sith histories, but the shadow of her presense has made an indelible impact on our Order. She was a true decendent of the Sith. One who's veins carried the ancient Sith heritage. Even though the great line has been broken there are still those that carry traces of the ancestral blood line.

 

Bastilla's eyes widen at this announcement.

 

 

I'll come to that soon enough my apprentice. She lived during the days when the Empire was young and fractured. In those days the Sith were engaged in a self-destructive power struggle much like the one we witness today, but on a far greater scale. The Sith were on the brink of self-annihilation. But there was one warlord who sought to unite the Sith under one rule, one Dark Lord. This was Marka Ragnos, the first true Dark Lord of the Sith. Ragnos possessed an awesome command of the Force, the likes of which has not been seen in a millennia. He rose to power through a succession of brilliant campaigns against the other Sith Lords. Ragnos quickly gained control of the Sith Empire.

 

But what was not known was that behind this great master of the darkside was a cunning, powerful sorceress who was gifted in prophesy and Sith alchemy. It was this sorceress that foretold the victories of Ragnos and guided his way to the throne of the Sith Empire. The Dark Lord kept the sorceress' true indentity hidden from his own court, which conspired against him constantly. From the behind the shadow of Ragnos' throne this sorceress helped the Dark Lord maintain dominance by pitting conspirator against conspirator, manipulating allies, and assassinating those that were disloyal to him. Ragnos ruled the Sith Empire this way for more than a century.

 

Near the end of his reign, the sorceress set down a series of prophesies that stretched some 10,000 years into the future. The prophesies themselves detailed the fall of the Sith, the coming of new Dark Lords, and even greater Empires ruled by the Sith. She explained that nothing she foretold was etched in stone, that the actions of the Sith could determine their own future......if they would heed the warnings of prophesies.

 

Using the prophesies as a guide, Ragnos haulted the expansion of the Empire to avoid engaging the Republic and the Jedi Order in long war they had been foretold to lose, but when Ragnos died his policy of prudence died with him. His successors waged war against each other and plunged the Sith Empire head first into a galaxy wide confrontation with the Republic and it's Jedi defenders. The Sith Empire fell and suffered a humilating defeat at the hands of it's enemies.

 

When Marka Ragnos' body had been interred in his tomb here on Korriban, the great sorceress by her own choice was buried alive with him in his tomb. She was never given a crypt of her own. When the tomb was sealed she suffocated in the darkness around her. All that is left of her mortal existance is the skeletal remains I have sealed in this chamber.

 

Bastilla sees a sarcophagus etched with ancient Sith markings resting on a huge stone block in the center of the chamber. The Master has given the sorceress' remains the burial she denied herself.

 

That is where you laid her down?

 

Just her remains from her mortal existance. From the day I met her I was a changed being. My eyes had been opened to the truth. The true nature of the galaxy, and the nature of the Force. Her words and her wisdom disarmed me of every foolish and vain philosophy that I had come to accept as truth. She helped me come to the understanding that my mind had been poisoned from birth. That what I had been taught to believe was superstition was truth, and that logic and reasoning was the lie. My whole concept of civilization had been broken down. Accepting the harsh reality that the whole of civilization had been decieved into embracing morality and values that it's own rulers had realized thousands of years ago were impossible for them to live by. That the more knowledge their people possessed the more impossible it would be for them to rule over their civilizations.

 

That logic and reason are embraced because people fear their own darkness, and don't want to understand it. They fear to embrace it, for the darkness is what we truly are. Not the thinly veiled puppets who are enslaved by a false set of principals.

 

And the Jedi! Oh the Jedi! The are the greatest enemies of all that is true. What hypocrites they are! The history of the Jedi Order can be read by the raging fire of the darkside that burns within them all. And yet they are the defenders and the enforcers of the great lie. That the path to the darkside is quick and easy. What a grand distortion they have purposefully mislead themselves with. There is nothing easy about the darkside. It's path is precarious at best.

 

The path to the darkside is the path to perfection, and what is easy about the path to perfection? What is perfection without passion? Is passion an easy thing? What is passion without sacrifice? What is sacrifice without pain and suffering? *sigh* I fear that the Jedi will forever be lost to their foolish misconceptions, forever damned to their passionless existance until either we or some other element puts them out of their self-inflicted misery.

 

Who other than the Sith could destroy the Jedi?

 

 

According to one of the more obscure prophesies that the sorceress set down, the Jedi will be destroyed by one of their own and then ressurrected by a Sith.

 

What?!

 

Try not to read too much into it. Trying to decipher ancient prophesy by it's direct wording can only lead to an ambiguous understanding of it's true meaning. But it is an interesting prophesy.

 

Indeed it is. Please Master, continue

 

 

Ah yes, my physical training under the spirit was odd, even for a Sith. The spirit would send me on quests through the tombs to find and collect various artifacts. I don't have to tell you how dangerous any quest in the Valley of the Dark Lords is, I have sent you on numerous missions myself. But with each quest and the gathering of each artifact I grew stronger. Sometimes the artifact that was found held great meaning and was used as a teaching tool, so I would find value in the quest no matter how dangerous. Other times the artifact was insignificant, but retrieving it almost ended my life. I began to understand that the quests were my training excercises, and after 20 years of those dangerous excercises my training was complete. All that was remaining was my final test, and it would prove if I was ready for the sacrifice of what it means to be a true Sith Lord.

 

What was the final test?

 

My final test was to find a new host for the spirit. One that would be sutible for a true decendent of the ancient blood line. Once the host was found the great sorceress would be ressurrected. I searched in vain, but no worth while host could be found. So I made the supreme sacrifice.......I gave her my own body.

 

Bastilla looked on in astonishment, trying to piece together the puzzle that was coming together in front of her. She had studied the ancient texts that The Master had given her. The ancient texts claimed that when dark side practitioners opened themselves to the power of the darkside through the use of sorcery that they could open themselves as willing hosts to a Sith Lord's spirit. The texts also made mention that the most powerful Sith Lord's could possess physical bodies at will and suppress the will of the host's spirit.

 

The Dark Lord looked on. He wasn't going to provide his apprentice with any help. She was going to have to piece the truth together on her own. Bastilla's mind was in a spin of fire. The Master gave his body to the Soceress' spirit, but then what happened to his own spirit? The ancient texts mentioned that willing hosts instantly became Sith spirits themselves. That they were free to find hosts of their own, willing or unwilling. Then it hit her! The mind boggling truth of it all came crashing in on her all at once! The Mandalorian Wars, the Jedi Civil War, the quest for the StarForge, it all made crystal clear sense.

 

REVAN. You were Darth Revan!

 

 

Well done apprentice! I possessed the young Jedi's body just before the beginning of the Mandalorian Wars. Revan was an eager young Padawan who studied the darkside of the Force. He journeyed to Korriban to learn what the Masters of the Order would not teach him. He got more than he bargined for. I was not able to destroy his spirit, which is a testament to his strength, I will give him that, but once Revan was mine I started the Mandalorian Wars. It was a master stroke. The Mandalorian Wars would be a cover for our search for the Starforge. Malak was a unknowing pawn. When the Mandalorians were defeated and the Republic crippled, we commandeered the Starforge and the Sith Inavasion had begun.

 

 

During the Jedi mission to capture Revan, Malak fired on your ship.

 

Revan's body was near death, and I was forced to flee from his dying shell. If the spirit of a Sith does not flee a dying host, the spirit is trapped within the mortal death. Revan would have died if it were not for you. Your powers preserved his body and his mind. The suppressed spirit of the Jedi Knight re-emerged, but he had no immediate memories of what happened while his body was mine.

 

Bastilla was stunned to learn what part she played in the affair, but the final piece of the puzzle was in place. Revan was never actually a Lord of the Sith. Revan the Jedi was innocent. Somewhere out there was a Jedi Knight who struggled with guilt over memories of being a traitor and committing atrocities that weren't his own.

 

But Revan believed that you were his Master. How was he convinced of this?

 

Without a true understanding of what happened he came to that conclusion on his own. I had no part in it. His memories might have returned sooner had the Jedi Masters not reprogrammed him with a new identity. Revan's memories will eventually return and he will have complete knowledge of the whole affair, but it will not serve him in any way. The hero of the Republic is also the most wanted man in the galaxy.

 

Yes, I made certain that all evidence of what happened on the Hawk points to him. Master if I may enquire, where is the sorceress now? Has she found another host?

 

Through the Force we believe we may have found one, a young woman. She is strong in the Force, and has not been tainted by the teachings of the Jedi....yet. Her location is still unknown to us. These disturbances in the Force have blinded our vision, so we cannot see her. We only know her name, Atris. And it is she who carries traces of the ancient Sith bloodline.

 

The Jedi won't be blind to her whereabouts. They may discover her and attempt to train her.

 

We cannot allow that to happen. The process is dangerous and difficult enough, even for a willing host. With Force training she could resist the possession, destroying herself and the sorceress during the process. This is where your sacrifice is needed. Are you prepared?

 

What would you have me do Master?

 

The Sorceress' spirit will need your body for the journey, she cannot travel on her own. Understand Lord Bastilla, the moment this happens you will no longer have control over your own being.

 

I understand Master.

 

Good. You will reap great rewards from this sacrifice. Do this Lord Bastilla and you will be as immortal as we are. Death and time will have no meaning for you ever again. Once we have located the woman she will leave your body and possess her new host. She will utterly destroy this woman's spirit. The Sorceress will not share with another as I have done. She has sworn this.

 

Master call upon Sion while there is still time! He may yet be able to bring the other Sith Lords under control. We can then complete this mission before the Jedi discover the host!.

 

As I stated, we are blind for these disturbances in the Force. We cannot find the host............on our own.

 

The brilliance of the Master's plan becomes clear.

 

Yes of course! The Jedi will lead us to the host when they attempt to train her.

 

Go now Lord Bastilla. Bring order among the Sith as I have commanded. You need not concern yourself with Sion. He is no longer in command of the first fleet as he is on his way to Coruscant to confront the Jedi. He will not be returning.

 

Sion is still a powerful warrior, he may yet complete his mission and destroy the Jedi for us.

 

Trust my better wisdom my apprentice when I tell you that Sion is already dead, he just doesn't know it yet.

 

 

I'll have Sion's trip to Coruscant up in a couple of days. Like I said, it's all speculation at this point.

[Sith Lords Plot Points based on Info and Updates]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Well with the official site up and running I was sort of hoping that some new game info would have come out that would back up my Coruscant Speculation, but it looks like Korriban and Nar Sharra may have taken the last spots. Also there are some things that don't add up to what we have been told in here by developers or read in various gaming sites and publications. I'm not complaining, but I hope that we haven't been mislead too much to protect the game's main plot.

 

The new Zabrak character will be cool if he's Jedi trainable. The Zabrak in certain screenshots has a melee weapon in his hand so he may not be a Jedi or perhaps waits for training.

 

 

There is hint that one of the Sith Lords will be a woman. This played into some of my own speculation, so I was only to glad to see that bit on news.

 

Since it's looking more and more like my Coruscant speculation will remain just that, I thought I would stop waiting and just finish this up in a few parts over the next week and be done with it. I didn't expect the same plot and sub-plots, but I would have liked Coruscant to have been in the game. Well, you can't have everything can you?

 

Some of you have stated awhile back that you don't like the direction that some of this is going. I understand, but there isn't a heck of alot to base this speculation on.

 

Character development can be very tricky in any franchise format, but when you don't have sufficient information you have to do alot of guessing. Even though for the most part character development functions as a sub plot, it still has to flow in the same direction as the main story arc.

 

So this time I re-wrote everything I had speculated on from the SITH perspective. Maybe some of you found the Lightside boring. It's taking me awhile to re-write it from the darkside angle, but I'm picking up where I left off, the events are just switched around to give the Sith's take on things.

 

Since all Dark Lords of the Sitb are basically two dimensional characters and Sion so far seems like the typical MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA villan, I thought I would try to introduce a character with many layers. Someone who is clearly twisted, but at the same time intelligent and witty and still in keeping with the classic cold-hearted Dark Lord image. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's bored with the typical "Darths" who seem to have mind sets on the level of grade school bullies.

[Sith Lords Plot Points based on Info and Updates]

Between life and work I had to drop the rest of the story speculation for awhile. The company I work for is outsourcing(the term they are using is "job migration") and the rotten bastards are going to be letting people go by years end. Though I don't think my job is threatened I've been busy in my spare time sending out resumes and doing alot of interviews and attending job fairs just in case I get a pink surprise with my year end employment check. Better safe then sorry. Those of us that remain will most certainly be getting a pay cut or losing benefits in one way or another. There are jobs out there, but they are significantly lower than what I'm earning now. Basically, the jobs in the US economic recovery is great if you don't mind managing a bunch of kids flipping burgers or retailing in a dept store.

 

 

What's even more ironic is that even as we all wait for the release of KOTOR:TSL, Lucas Arts sent it's employees a notice telling them that they will be getting no bonus this year. Take a look:

 

Folks,

 

As you know, we have just completed the annual appraisal process along with the allocation of merit increases. Along the way, members of the senior staff, in a responsible and commendable act, recommended to me, given the financial situation of the company, that there be no bonuses distributed this year. I'm writing to let you know that, regrettably, I agree with their recommendation and have made the decision that there will be no bonuses distributed this year for the entire company. I know this is disappointing news, but it's what we need to do.

 

In the eight or so weeks since I've been here, I've met and talked with many of you. And I'm going to get to all of you, believe me. But you need to know that I'm encouraged, amazed and inspired by the continued commitment and desire of everyone in this company to make LucasArts a better place. A place where we will make insanely great games that are the right insanely great games for the marketplace. Insanely great games that will sell to a broad consumer audience launch when they're supposed to and, at the end of the day, yield a profit for the entire company. Insanely great games that will restore the luster to the LucasArts logo so that when we, and our consumers, see it on our packaging and on our games, we'll all know that the Gold Guy is once again the mark of leading edge innovation, creativity and amazing fun.

 

But, unfortunately, we're not there yet. And as I look ahead, I realize we have some very tough challenges in all areas of our business. Our performance, qualitatively, strategically and financially, just isn't there. One of the primary consequences of this lack of performance is that we have to make some tough decisions, like this one, to get back on track.

 

As many of you know, we have undertaken a critical analysis of our company, our industry, our competitors and our consumers in order to develop a strategic plan that will allow us to make those insanely great games and deliver a level of profitability. I will be coming to you in the Fall time-frame with that plan. In the meantime we have critical milestones to achieve for each and every one of our games that are currently in development. All of us, together, must now take a stand, dig in, focus and commit to doing everything humanly possible to make these games a success. Take a step back and question the norm. Challenge the status quo. Satisfy yourself that we are making the greatest games possible, meeting our deadlines and doing so in the most cost-effective way.

 

And realize that each and every one of you IS a member of the team. You have a duty and a responsibility to speak up if you're dissatisfied with quality, timing or fiscal responsibility. I encourage you, and demand of you, that you take an active role in pushing our own envelope. I promise, you will be listened to. But once you are heard, do something about it. Make a difference. Effect change. Make Battlefront, Galaxies, KOTOR II, Mercenaries, Republic Commando and the Episode III games the best that they can be.

 

Again, I know the lack of bonuses this year is disappointing news. It's simply what must be done. But you have my commitment, my desire and my devotion to make LucasArts the most creative, innovative and insanely great interactive entertainment company in the industry. I hope I can count on you to do the same.

 

 

Thanks,

Jim Ward

 

 

What can I say? It's beginning to look alot like Christmas. Anywho, enough of my personal bitching about jobs and pay cuts.

[Sith'Ari]

1. Vader is Cyborg hence stronger than normal person

 

2. Telekinesis is standard aplication of force and not a supernatural or godlike

ability.

 

3. I didin't visit there because i don't like spoilers.

 

and if anyone wonders ...

 

I'am not a fan, I was before Lucas F****d it all up with episodes 1 & 2 though.

 

Nuff Said

 

 

Oh well Lucas manages to dissappoint somebody else. Can't please everybody.

[Sith'Ari]

You know to be "perfect being" you must be at least as powerful as Anakin Skywalker and Exar Kun. Revan is a **** and absorb this fact into yourself.

Anakin fallen into lava and should die in a second. Yet pure force that was in him and created him, let him survive. And later despite this near-death he was able to become the most feared sith lord ever who exterminated all jedi.

 

Revan became a plant becouse Malak fired onto his flagship. Silly question but why Bastila survived unscatched this shot? She was near mighty Revan

and should die. Is Bastila more powerful than Revan or maybe is she a Sithari too?

Hahahahaha....

 

Prophecies are unclear and his one is quoted by a formet twilek stripper. It may have some obscurities but it fits perfectly in Anakin's role in bringing force to balance and ultimate sith triumph.

 

Anakin was created by pure force and such supernatural birth means that he may be a sithari.

 

The fact that you know only KOTOR and watched the movies doesn't mean that you know SW. Lucasfilm and Lucas were saying many times that they always intended to make Star Wars as a well-suit compilation of books, comics, movies<, gamesand other stuff. EU is as important as movies.Accept it.

 

It is obvious that devs were influenced by TPM "choosen one" talk and so on. They for certain watched the prequels like us all and decided to use this prophecy that Quigon talked about. Prophecies are usually ancient and Sithari prophecy may have been later absorbed by the jedi-like the sith absorbed many jedi things.

 

Besides you're confusing things. There are two paths and only one is true. Revan

destroyed not all sith in light path cause that's impossible and even if so what?

How could hew empower them by slaining them? Sithari should have some special powers and bring new force features, good-like abilities etc. Revan is a looser who only can relatively well fight and nothing more. While ancient sith lords were capable of much more. Educate yourself.

 

Balance is one. Light and Dark are equally powerful and this is natural order of universe. Sith say that dark side is stronger than the light but tha't a lie. Every sun casts a shadows and in the night even a little flame is well visible. GL invented the force by relying on Taoism and Jing/Jang symbol symblizes also the Force (Jing/Jang you have two elements dark and light that are balanced perfectly) every one who disturbes the balance is punished by the Force becouse he breaks natural order. Clear?

 

To me Revan is too weak and besides what effect his quest has? Sith existed for 3000 years after him and they were on the same position as before him. He didn't change the course of Sith History. Well Anakin Skywalker certainly changed...

 

 

No offense but you are reaching too much to connect the dots to this prophesy.

 

You are relying to much on canon films to dictate how an EU story was developed. The Bioware developers didn't have Anakin in mind when they created it. This was another argument that got settled at the Bioware boards awhile ago I think. People were asking what the Sith prophesy meant. The developers never refered to it as having anything to do with Anakin's Chosen One prophesy. It was strictly created for KOTOR. Nothing else.

 

How weak or strong Revan was can be debated back and forth, but put it out of your mind that the devs at Bioware put in a 4000 year old homage easter egg in KOTOR. The prophesy of the Chosen One is vauge and without any real details. SW Hyperspace spoilers reveal that Master Yoda will decipher the Chosen One prophesy and trust me, it sounds nothing like Yuthura's Sith'Ari prophesy. The Chosen One's path does not end with him leading the Sith.

[Sith'Ari]

Few points...

 

* About Anakin falling to lava -> this is a rumour not canon, until we see

  Episode 3 we don't now if true or not.

 

* Exactly what Supernatural abilities Vader had ?

  - i don't recall him having any.

 

* There is no Official midichlorian count chart in existence...

  - where'd you get 27000 for Exar ?

 

* Didn't Exar Kun Use ancient Sith Tech to destroy the stars....

 

* didn't exar Kill himself so that he wouldn't suffer a defeat in the hands of the jedi ?

 

* BTW:

 

  Movies - Books - RPG - Computer Games - Comics

 

  Path from "Canon" to Crap....

 

  According to LA announcement in early 90's

 

Nuff Said.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Vader demonstrates supernatural strength when he lifts and crushes the thoat of a Rebel trooper in ANH

 

Vader demonstrates telekentic powers in ESB during his battle with Luke.

 

*SPOILER*

 

 

Don't you ever visit the boards of the official site? Hyperspace members already know that Anakin will fall into lava and is burnt to a crisp. People have known this since last last year already. In fact they have recently posted pics of burnt up arms of Anakin.

 

You really need to catch up.

[Sith'Ari]

The Sith'ari was a perfect being who would rise to power and bring balance to the Force. According to prophecy, the Sith'ari would rise up and destroy the Sith, but in the process would return to lead the Sith and make them stronger than ever before

 

This is not the Anakin Skywalker "Chosen One" prophesy.

 

Listen to the words. "a perfect being who would rise to power and bring balance to the Force" That doesn't sound like Anakin.

 

Not to mention "balance" doesn't mean the same thing to the Sith and the Jedi.

 

"but in the process would RETURN to lead the Sith and make the stronger" This doesn't sound like Anakin either.

 

Come on guys. Lots of other people in here have already figured this out. THIS PROPHESY IS ABOUT DARTH REVAN

 

Revan rose to power.

 

Revan destroyed all of the Sith and(if you played the Darkside game) did return to the Dark Side to lead the Sith and make them stronger.

 

Anakin has zero to do with this. Why would the developers throw the Chosen One prophesy in the game? There was no need.

[Sith Lords Plot Points based on Info and Updates]

PART TWO

 

Speculative Training Montage.

 

 

 

The training of Vangelis proceeds at a furious pace. Because Vangelis is already a Padawan with some acumen in the Jedi way, Master Vandar has abandoned the regular order of training, choosing instead to focus intense concentration on Vangelis' proficiency in the use of the most advanced Jedi arts and skills. Vandar takes Vangelis through the steps of powerful medititations that have him raising huge metal and stone objects. He also teaches Vangelis how to both "see" and "hear" the Force in himself and those around him.

 

"The Force is a natural energy that flows without effort, without strain. Therefore a Jedi in the way of the Force is a natural energy. The Force flows to sustain itself, to achieve balance and harmony with all living things.

 

A Jedi's strength flows naturally from the Force. A Jedi must have balance and harmony within himself as well as with the Force. A Jedi, in order to be apart of this natural force must live consciously, calmly, peacefully. Peace, knowledge and serenity, these have balance.

 

Fear, anger and aggression, these are without balance. The one who surrenders to these must harness the Force with the net of these emotions, he is therefore burdened and conflicted.

 

Learn something about the Force my Padawan. The Force in it's natural state is without anxiety, without conflict. So when the Jedi and the Sith are in conflict with each other, the Force is then at war with itself. The Jedi seeks to end conflict, to end the chaos of anxiety.

 

In order to know the way of the Force, a Jedi must first know himself. To know yourself is to know your own power and weakness. Be aware of your weakness. As the Force speaks to you, communicating it's will, your weakness communicates to you as well. Your weakness can be crafty and complex. Indeed, complex and vengeful. It can lie to you. Lie to you about your strength and capabilities in the Force. Convincing you that you are invincible. This is a path to the darkside. This is how the darkside "calls" to a Jedi. Therefore be aware of the darkness within you so that you will be able to discern the difference between the will of the Force, and the call of the darkside."

 

On the dueling halo in the Master training quad, Vangelis is tutored in the finer arts of the mastery of the lightsaber and Teras Kasi.(since they say we can hit enemies now) Vangelis's skills in the basic lightsaber fighting form is quickly polished to perfection under the guidance of Master Vandar. In the Masters' quad, facing the dueling halo, stands a huge statue of Nomi Sunrider kneeling in meditation. During training sessions Vandar sits in the lap of the Sunrider statue. Vandar finishes his skills in the single hand, then the two handed, and lastly the double blade. To spar with his student, Master Vandar utilizes a plain metal armature(a droid shell devoid of any circuitry or power sources) that he manipulates through the Force like puppet. During these intense training sessions the armature springs to life with all of Master Vandar's skill and mastery of the various lightsaber fighting forms.

 

Because you are already familiar with the rudimentry skills of the lightsaber, we can advance your training in the skills that you will need in your confrontations with the Sith.

 

The lifeless armature suddenly snaps to life again whirling it's lightsaber and taking a posture that Vangelis hasn't seen before. Through the Force and the armature, Vandar demonstrates an agile and graceful fighting style.

 

"This is Form II, a masterful fighting form from a far more civilized age than we live in now my Padawan. It's origins are still rooted in mystery. It is an ancient fighting form of complex fencing techniques that compliments the elegance of the lightsaber and the grace of it's user. After all, the lightsaber by it's very nature is a fencing weapon, and some of the most skilled Knights in the history of the Order were considered weapon masters even without the use of the Force to guide their hands.

 

While most fighting forms rely on strength or defensive skill, Form II is a fighting form of cunning finesse. It requires the most composed mind to master it's most complex and precise techniques. It demands patience of the one who would use it, and the mastering of it's techniques will only come through the Force. View not the lightsaber as merely a weapon, but as an extention of yourself. Channel the Force through your mastery of the arts of the lightsaber. Though a Jedi may have an immpressive battle prowress, he must remain centered and balanced through the Force."

 

Over the next few weeks Vangelis' skills in the newly learned fighting form excels to such levels that Master Vandar is impressed enough to add two more armatures to the dueling excercises.

 

"As you perfect your skills and learn control you will discover that the Force can enhance your physiology. It can increase your agility and add to your prowress in battle. You are well on your way my Padawan, but there is still much more for you to learn."

 

 

The next phase of Vangelis' training takes him to the Temple Library. Here Master Vandar leaves Vangelis to study the wisdom and teachings of the great Masters of the Order.

 

"The excellent Masters of Old, subtle, mysterious, mystic, acute. It is said that while a Jedi Master lives his wisdom is too profund to be understood in his time. It is then left to the living to glean wisdom from their words. Here the wise words of Master Odan-Urr:

 

"A Jedi Master said this to each of his students before their first lesson: Cross an unfamiliar river without first discerning it's depths and shallows, and you will drown in it's currents without reaching your goal. Being a Jedi is no different. Indentify the pitfalls and learn the proper path, or you fail the Order and sacrifice yourself to no good purpose."

 

 

"For thousands of generations the Masters of the Jedi Order have used their knowledge and mastery of the Force to serve the greater good of the galaxy, right wrongs, defend the weak, and stand against the forces of darkness. A Jedi spreads knowledge that unites people, to help them see their common goals. A Jedi uses his knowledge to unify fragmented civilizations, and bring peace to worlds that are gripped in tragic conflicts.

 

For a Jedi to strive for the goal of peace he must look beyond the surface and into the deeper roots and causes of a conflict. The Jedi works towards his goals with unwavering dedication, his mind unclouded by the strong passions of others. A Jedi understands that peace can only be achieved when there is balance, balance between disaggreeing factions, and of course balance within himself. If the Jedi has no peace, how can he bring balance and peace to others?"

 

The final phase of Vangelis' training brings him to the Temple Archives. It is in this part of the Jedi Temple that the Force spirits of Master Dorak, Zhar, and Vrook reside. The Temple archives already had a mystic appearence with it's dozens of holocrons that hover in place above ornate lit pedestals, it's holo-projections of starmaps and ancient Masters that saturated the gallary. But with the radiant presence of the Force Spirits, the Jedi museum seems ethereal. Vangelis recieves instruction from Vandar and the Force Spirits.

 

 

Normally as a Padawan you would not have access to the Temple archives..

 

But these are hardly normal times. The Jedi Order stands on the brink of annihilation. The Old Republic is pulling back to the Mid Rim worlds and buckling under the might of the Sith Lords. In the short time it has taken for you to complete your training the Sith have been advancing, moving closer to their goals of conquest of the galaxy..

 

 

Because you escaped the snares of Sion, he will be searching for you now more than ever. Understand that failure among the Sith means death. Sion now knows that if he returns to Master he will be killed for his failure to destroy you.

 

I thought Sion was the Dark Lord?

 

Should we proceed with this?

 

We didn't bring him this far to not reveal the truth. We were illusive once before, it almost cost us everything.

 

Master Vandar is right. He must hear the whole truth.

 

The Masters explain to Vangelis that the truth about the Sith Lords goes all the way back to the Mandalorian Wars. There were two Sith Lords. One Master, one apprentice. They didn't know who the Dark Lord was, but they have since learned that Sion is his NEW apprentice. The Sith Lords went to the Mandalorians with a proposal that they couldn't refuse, an opportunity to rule the galaxy. The Sith Lords provided the Mandalorians with what they believed to be stratagies to bring the Republic to it's knees. The Sith Lords knew that the Mandalorians wouldn't defeat the Republic. It was all a plan to weaken the Republic and launch a real war with the Sith Lords leading the attack. The Masters further explain that the reason why the Jedi High Council refused to enter the Mandalorian Wars with the Republic was because the darkside clouded their vision. They knew that the Sith were behind the war, but the Republic wouldn't heed the High Council's warnings and plunged head first into a battle with the Mandalorians.

 

The unexpected twist came from Revan and Malak. They disobeyed the Council and went to war for the Republic. Or so the Republic thought. Revan and Malak discovered the Star Map on Dantooine and used the Mandalorian Wars as a cover to complete the quest for the StarForge. But here is where the Masters explain the hideous and shocking twist. REVAN WAS ACTUALLY THE DARK LORD'S APPRENTICE, and it was this unknown Dark Lord that sent Revan on the quest for the StarForge. Something that he even kept from poor dilluted Malak. It was always Darth Revan's intention to turn control of the Starforge to his Master. Revan would command the fleets that would conquer the Republic. The Jedi Civil war was only a bonus with so many Jedi leaving the Order to join Revan, Malak and the Sith.

 

But the Dark Lord's plans for conquest were haulted when Malak fired on Revan's ship and took control of the Starforge. Since Malak never had any contact with Darth Revan's Master, he believed that he was the new Dark Lord of the Sith after the supposed death of Darth Revan.

 

Vangelis is then told about Bastilla, her mission to capture Revan, and what eventually became the High Council's plan to use a mind altered Sith Lord to complete the quest for the Starforge. He is told about the confrontation Revan had with Malak, revealing the truth, and how Darth Revan died, and how Jedi Knight Revan was reborn. The savior and champion of the Republic that defeated Malak and the destroyed the StarForge.

 

But somewhere in the galaxy, someone was seething with rage. His plans thwarted, his powerful apprentice turned from the path of the darkside, and his ultimate weapon destroyed. It would only be a matter of time before he set new plans in motion against the Jedi and the Republic.

 

 

With the Sith Fleet scattered and leaderless the Republic was having a fairly easy time engaging them and reclaiming Republic worlds. During this interim, Revan's memories return to him fully. He reveals the whole sorted truth about the Dark Lord and the real enemy of the Republic. Realizing the danger that the Sith Lord poses, the High Council gives Revan permission to go on a personal quest to find and root out the Dark Lord. Bastilla, Jolee, and Juhani refuses to let Revan go on the dangerous quest alone. So the 4 Jedi knights took the Ebon Hawk and went for the last known location of the Dark Lord. The Outer Rim.

 

Shortly after Revan and his party departs, Darth Sion and 3 other Sith Lords sieze the divided Sith Fleets. The 4 fleets keep the weakened Republic Fleet contained in Republic Space. Each fleet by itself is not enough to conquer the Republic, but if the 4 Sith Lords were to unite, their combined fleets would bring the Republic to it's knees. It is Sion's plan to gain control of these fleets for the Dark Lord either by uniting the Sith Lords or destroying their leaders. Revan's mission to find the Dark Lord may be the only thing that prevents the fall of the Republic. But it's been 5 years, Revan and his party have not been heard from or seen. Then the Ebon Hawk shows up drifting with Vangelis in it.

 

*Note: I'm not going to touch the how and the why of the PC's reasons for being in the Hawk. I have some speculation, but it really doesn't make sense. The in game reason probably won't answer questions off the bat either, so I'm just going to leave that alone.*

 

 

Tell me masters. Do any of you see Revan through the Force?

 

We are Spirits of the light young Padawan, our existance in the Force cannot center around the unknown.

 

Master Vandar?

 

I do not know the fate of Revan and the others my Padawan. The darkside still clouds everything in the Force. It impossible for me to see.

 

 

Masters I know what you want me to do, but if time is running out for Republic shouldn't I begin searching for the Dark Lord?

 

The search for Revan will lead you to the Dark Lord. If you can trace the steps of Revan, you will find the Dark Lord at the end of that journey.

 

And if I should find that Revan is dead or................

 

Turned to the darkside? Either scenario would be unfortunate for us. The Dark Lord would have destroyed a power Jedi Knight and his companions, or would have gained a powerful ally against us.

 

This is why you are here in Archives my Padawan. You cannot face the Dark Lord unprepared. Together we will teach the most ancient powerful of Jedi powers. Powers that will grant you the abilities to sense your surroundings, and reveal the affinity of others through the Force. Another power you must have is Psychometry. An ancient Jedi power that will allow you to percieve past events by coming in contact with places and objects. By touching some objects you will hear and see what the object's wielder saw and heard. This will be essential to solving the mystery of Revan and the Dark Lord. Because of your powerful affinity with the Force, we will teach you Battle Meditation. It is a rare skill that only a few Jedi in the history of the Order have mastered. Battle Meditation will give you the ablity to impose your vision on the outcome of any battle. It will...........\

 

Master Vandar's eyes begin to widen.

 

Yes Master, I feel the disturbance too. It's Sion, he's here on Coruscant.

 

Are you you sure it is the Sith Lord?

 

I have been in his presense before. I now know his signature in the Force.

 

You have the skills you need to face the Sith Lord. It is time for you to trust the Force as your ally. That more than your training will determine the outcome..

 

You must prepare to go meet him. We cannot leave the Temple to aid you

 

Even if my training were 100% complete this isn't going to be easy. His physiology is not normal. And he most likely will not be alone. Tell me, is there is no chance he could enter the Temple?

 

Vandar has the Temple sealed, they cannot enter. Any efforts would be futile.

 

We must go out to face him! On Coruscant Sion could do great harm. He could assassinate senators and further cripple the Senate!

 

I know I have to face Sion Master, and I have a plan, but I'm going to need your help.

 

I will help in any way I can my Padawan. What would you have me do?

 

First, you have to open the front door.

 

 

I will finish this up in a couple of days. I would like to wait and see if any new info or updates in publications breaks over the weekend.

[Sith Lords Plot Points based on Info and Updates]

Sorry about the delay, but I really had to take an axe to the plot speculation after the Telos update. It required that I lose one fight completely, and edit another to fit very loosely in the story. So forgive the choppy story and dialogue as I was forced move things along in the speculation's story a little more quickly.

 

I suppose if we get more updates like Telos then plot speculations will no longer be needed. Then I can go back to harrassing the DEVS for plot info. In any case this will probably be my last speculation as we are undoubtedly going to get more info with just 3 months standing between us what we assume will be the Dec 7th release. We hope!

 

 

"Other chambers within the Jedi Temple included the Room of a Thousand Fountains, which featured a huge greenhouse, flowing waters and cascades. The temple also included lightsaber training areas and an area that provided views of giant holographic star maps"

 

Expanded Universe entry from the Star Wars data bank Location:Jedi Temple

 

 

"The halls of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant lie empty, and the waters in the Room of a Thousand Fountains have fallen still, in reverence to the Jedi who fell to the Sith in battle... or were seduced by the lure of the Dark Side"

 

Lucas Arts KOTOR:TSL Designer Diary. Mike Gallo, Chris Parker

 

 

So, if we are to draw anything from the Designer Diary it would be that Coruscant could be a mission planet in TSL. That of course opens up the possibility of the Jedi Temple being in the game. The references to the "Room of a Thousand Fountains" is also significant I think when you consider that it is an EU reference.

 

To make this work I drew a little from the SW RPG books and some of my eastern philosophy studies which is very Jedi-ish anyway. I broke it in two parts so as not to overwhelm the reader too much.

 

I don't know how the rest of you feel but I couldn't resist trying to frame a picture here. The image of an empty Jedi Temple where only a Master and his apprentice are residing in it's vast halls is a powerful image.

 

 

SPECULATION CORUSCANT

 

 

Courscant- The capital and seat of government in the 20,000 year old Galactic Republic. The habitation of a trillion souls from every corner of the galaxy, and home of the Jedi Temple.

 

A private airbus hustles across the night sky of the megatropolis that is Galatic City. The airbus cruises past the Galactic Senate and Courts of Justice, past the Municipal district where atmosphere penetrating spires tower over deep canyons of mega-structures that decend for miles, and then finally slowing as it approaches a dark low-rise sector of the megatropolis. Dark because there is no light in this part of the city.

 

Atton at the piloting controls flips on the front beams of the airbus allowing it's passengers to see their destination....The Jedi Temple.

 

The grand zigguraut is bathed in such darkness that if Atton didn't rely on the sensors of the airbus he might have crashed into it. Following the exact directions that Master Vandar had given, the airbus comes to a hault along the side the Temple's wall where there is an extreme narrow precipice barely capable of supporting two adult sized feet. Under the narrow precipice is a sheer one kilometer drop point along the Temple's foudational wall.

 

The airbus doors fly open and Vangelis steps out on to the gracile walkway with Master Vandar once again riding his shoulders. He motions to Atton and the air bus rises and then turns away into the darknesss.

 

Vangelis begins checking along the wall with his hands but finds no indents or crevices as the wall's surface is seamless. There is nothing to see in the darkness, not even the dangerous drop below. Vandar stretches his hands foward. Using the Force Vandar begins unlocking a complex maze of locks, hooks, bolts, bars, pins and latches until finally a narrow path is made open in the wall. Vangelis and Vandar enter in and the wall closes behind them seamlessly.

 

In total darkness, Vandar guides Vangelis through a perplexing labyrinth of twists and turns that have him doing everything from walking sideways along walls to avoid death drops, to using the Force at precise moments to avoid huge sliding stone blocks that are shifting into place to close paths that are quickly being crossed by the duo. Finally through a narrow hallway they step into the Temple. With a flick of his hand, Vandar brings light to the darkened halls of the Temple.

 

 

 

 

Vangelis kneels to let Master Vandar down, and the Jedi Master suddenly slumps to the floor from exhaustion.

 

Master Vandar! Are you alright?

 

 

I will be fine my Padawan. The intense focus of the Force that was needed to enter the Temple was taxing upon me.

 

Master Vandar perhaps you should rest before we begin.

 

We need more time than rest. We will have niether. We have barely escaped, but our enemies know we are here and they will be coming. We must be prepared for them.

 

You will begin my training tonight?

 

I see no reason to delay. Meet me in the Masters' training quad. I trust you know the way?

 

 

The Jedi Temple was my home. I could never forget. Aren't coming?

 

I'll be along shorty. There are some things that I must gather before we begin.

 

 

Vangelis sprints down the long pathway leaving Vandar behind. The old Master surveys the vast Temple. Never before in all the years he has been a Jedi has he ever seen the Jedi Temple like this. Silent. Even during the Mandalorian Wars that had taken so many young Padawans away from the Order, the Temple still functioned as a place of life and learning. In those days Vandar needed only to stretch out to feel the way the Force flowed through the Temple. He could feel the excitment of the youngest of apprentices having their first experiences with the Force. Then there were the Knights, powerful Force users in their prime. Masters in their own right that taught by example, the right arm of the Order. And of course the Masters, who both passionately and joyously debated each other over their understanding of the will of the Force.

 

Those were good days. These days however...... are strange to him.

 

But the old Master knows that as strange as the days are to him, they are all too familiar to the Jedi Order. The Jedi fall only to rise again, stronger than before. This was just as much apart of the will of the Force as it was the history of the Jedi Order. As though triumph and tragedy were the left and right hand of the same body. Vandar reaches out to feel the flow of the Force in the Temple, and senses the excitement in his new Padawan. Suddenly these don't feel like such strange days to the old Jedi Master anymore.

 

 

In the armory of the Master's training quad, Vangelis begins looking for supplies and clothing. Though the Temple is scarce in Jedi, it is surprisingly well stocked. As if the Temple had been kept in a state of readiness for it's inhabitants to return. Equipment for lightsaber construction, armor, and Jedi Robes are in plentiful supply. Rushing nervously through his choices he finally settles on a set of brown tunics with a black vestment. He checks himself in an transmitting reflector and then walks out into the training quad.

 

The Masters' training quad was only one level above the Temple Library and one level below the Temple Archives. It was a place reserved for the Masters of the Order, not even Jedi Knights had access to these restricted levels without full concent of the High Council. Yet here he was waiting for Master Vandar to begin the completion of his training. In the center of the training quad is a dueling halo with a large statue of a kneeling Jedi facing it, Nomi Sunrider. Vangelis walks to the center of the halo and takes a seated position on the floor. Legs crossed, hands on his knees. He doesn't want Master Vandar to see him in such an anxious state, so he begins a meditative excercise that he hopes will relax his mind before his teacher arrives.

 

The Padawan's meditative excercise has the opposite effect. Instead of bringing him the calm he sought, he is suddenly bombarded with visions of the traumatic events that took place over the last days. The visions begin to organize themselves in such a way that Vangelis can experience all the sensations that come with living in those moments. Realizing that he has no control over them, Vangelis stops resisting and alllows the images and sensations to flow through his mind.

 

He sees visions of himself and Kreia in deadly combat with the Sith Lord Darth Sion. The Sith Lord was a Jedi's nightmare, from his brutal command of the Force to his gruesome appearence. And through the fight he maintained a confident smile. Vangelis and Kreia coordinating their attacks against Sion had done nothing to tire him. His saber movements were smooth and effortless.............and un-natural. Sion would twist and turn arms into the most contorted positions. Kriea would strike at him from the front, Vangelis from behind. Sion would parry blows in front of him and block blows behind him with stunning agility. But it was only mid-way through the confrontation did Vangelis understand why the Sith Lord's movements were so impossible. It was his body!

 

 

Vangelis could sense through the Force that every bone in the Sith Lord's body was either fractured or broken. It was the reason why he had seen Sion fold his elbows in the opposite direction to counter their coordinated attacks. He could disregard his spine and twist and turn to meet whatever assault they could bring against him.

 

And then there was the Force.

 

Vangelis could feel the darkside swirling around him and rising in Sion. It was if all of the Sith Lord's rage and hatred began to take on the strength and intensity of a black hole. The tide was never in their favor, but as the Sion's rage began to rush foward against them they could feel the duel slipping further away from them........and possibly taking both of thier lives in the process. Kreia would not let this happen.

 

Summoning all her physical strength and allowing the Force to gather within her, Kreia spins her duel bladed saber into a fierce blitz of slashing attacks. For the first time the Sith Lord is driven back and forced into a defensive posture that even he demonstrates difficulty holding. Vangelis did not sense this sudden move by Kreia through the Force. They had been subtlely communicating with each other during the duel, that connection was now broken as Kreia drove Sion back. He could suddenly feel flashes of fear, but couldn't discern who the fear was coming from. What was she doing? How would she maintain this intensity?

 

He starts to join in behind Kreia when he she screams, "No!!" He suddenly feels his guts wrenching. The old Cathar was going to sacrifice herself.

 

With his lightsaber in hand Vangelis stands poised to join Kreia until he sees her starting to falter. Her duel bladed saber which could only be described as a blur just moments ago can now be registered easily with the naked eye. He can see the Sith Lord quickly regaining control of the duel. The smile on Sion's face begins to return and even broadens. Vangelis can see that Kreia's energy is almost spent. Sion quickly goes back on the offensive with sweeping two handed saber blows that renders Kreia's saber from her hands and brings Kreia to her knees. He raises his lightsaber up with both hands over his head. The next move from Sion would cleave her neatly in half.

 

Vangelis can watch no more, he prepares to bolt towards Sion in a desperate attempt to save Kreia and cut the Sith Lord down once and for all when he sees Kreia's double saber fly back to her hand. From her kneeling position quickly ignites one end of her saber and surges upward, plunging her saber deep in Sion's chest. It was a fatal killing move...............or at least it should have been.

 

Impaled with the burning blade of a lightsaber, Darth Sion looks down at Kreia and cracks an evil grin. Shock and surprise are never given a chance to register on Kreia's face. Her hands that are gripped around her saber drop between her knees with one swing, her life is ended with another.

 

You are alone now Jedi

 

A wave of deadly Force lightning sprang towards the young Padawan. He blocks most of it with his lightsaber, but the end tail of the lightning curls itself around the shaft delivering a powerful shock and rendering the weapon useless.

 

Vangelis could see the wound that Kreia's saber had inflicted on the Sith Lord. It was now closing! Using the Force Sion was pulling the cauterized flesh together. He was in extreme pain, but it seemed to only be renewing his strength. Vangelis watching the seared tissue being forced together only thought two things, reach for Kreia's weapon and make a stand like a Jedi, or flee for his life. He had just seen Kreia fall to the Sith Lord after running him through. He could stab and slash the Sith all he wanted, the Sith Lord would only heal himself again and replenish his strength. So looking at Kreia's lightsaber still being gripped by her severed hands, Vangelis does what is unthinkable to a Jedi..................he runs.

 

 

You are still troubled over your encounter with Sion on Telos.

 

Vangelis opens his eyes to Master Vandar seated just in front of him.

 

Why did she break our connection? We could have defeated Sion together!

 

Perhaps. Is that what is troubling you my Padawan?

 

I could sense her fear through the Force. She....

 

You didn't sense fear from Kreia. She made a choice to sacrifice herself. There was no conflict.

 

 

Are you saying the fear came from Sion?

 

Understand something about the darkside my Padawan. Fear is at the root of everything in the darkside of the Force. Fear can bring forth great aggression. It is the catalyst for a dangerous chain of emotional states.

 

 

Anger and hate.

 

Among others, yes.

 

Master if the light is stronger than the darkside then why are the Sith so strong in the Force?

 

I think you misunderstand the nature of the Force. Both the Jedi and the Sith have strong affinity to the Force. The Jedi listens to the will of the Force. The Sith feel that the Force is to be used for their will.

 

So the Force can be with the Sith as well as the Jedi?

 

Hmm, a very good question.

 

And the answer is?

 

One that you will provide for yourself.

 

What?

 

I could provide you with an answer. An answer I know you would not like. Your understanding must first be broadened for you to be able to accept the truth about the nature of the Force.

 

I had hoped you would not have been cryptic with me Master.

 

Again this is something that you will only appreciate when you are a Jedi Master yourself.

 

Apprecite illusiveness?

 

Not illusiveness my Padawan, but the wisdom of subtlety. The answers you seek will come to you in their natural course of time. In the past many over anxious young Padawan's have sought knowlege that they were not ready to comprehend. It was not the knowlege itself that was dangerous, but their limited understanding of the Force coupled with that knowledge that was perilous.

 

Like Revan and Malak's quest for the Starforge.

 

We will come to that at another time. For now we must concentrate on completing your skills.