Success or Death.
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
The Codex Umbra contains a near complete replica of Darth Ophidia’s mind and, potentially all of her force abilities. To a learner, she will teach:
It was the end of the One Sith’s dominion of the Core, when the Jedi and Mandalorians were closing in, and the Sith had all but depleted their resources in the wars against the Galactic Republic. The Dark Council had cracked, and the Pyramid of Mysteries had ordered that all conquerable planets remaining should be set ablaze, and sith assets should be hidden. In these desperate times, Darth Ophidia came to the idea that the Sith may not always keep the upper hand; she, as a custodian of their dark wisdom, had to create a way to insure the secrets of the Sith were passed on in perpetuity. So, she began to construct the Codex Umbra.
It began with her own skills, imparting lessons on the Sith, use of the Force, construction of a lightsabre, and the arts of the Sith Assassin. However, she found it was insufficient for her grand plan, so she went on a quest to find and restore other holocrons and secret places of knowledge, like the library temple of Krayiss Two, the holocron of Darth Krayt, and finally the Holocron of Heresies. It was Andeddu, both from the accounts of Darth Krayt, and in his attempts to free himself inside the temple of Krayiss Two, that inspired Ophidia to make her boldest addition to the Codex Umbra: A fragment of her own soul.
Her quest took years to facilitate as she chipped away at Krayt, Andeddu, and a number of other dead lords who had attempted similar feats. Darth Ophidia scoured Prakith, Fresia, and the Stygian Caldera, using historical conservationists to do her bidding, or simply stealing what she desired. While the project began at the fall of the One Sith, it came into its conclusion during the height of another Sith Empire. As a part of the Sith Emperor’s dark council, Darth Ophidia made the last finishing touches on her holocron. For safe-keeping, the Codex Umbra is stored in Darth Ophidia’s vaults at the Maena Institute.
She knew well now that the Sith would be well taken care of.
- Intent: To create a spooky artefact for Darth Ophidia.
- Image Credit: Wookieepedia: Sith Holocron, first image. Edits by me.
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links:
- Factory Sub: Holocron of Heresies
- Wookieepedia: Holocron of Heresies
- Wookieepedia: Sith Holocron
- Character: Darth Ophidia
- Holocron Name: Codex Umbra.
- Alignment: Dark aligned.
- Origin: Created by the shadowy Sith Lord, Darth Ophidia.
- Affiliation: Darth Ophidia; The Sith Empire; Sith Assassins
- Gatekeeper: The gatekeeper takes two forms:
- The White Serpent: The first form presented is a serpent with scales like snow and eyes like drops of blood. Its voice is soft and calm. It speaks politely, but it gives little information about the holocron unless the speaker gives the right introduction or somehow convinces the serpent that they are worthy of the secrets within.
- The Queen of Shadows: The second form is that of Darth Ophidia herself; a tall, slender woman, clad in black robes that obscure her face, with eyes set like embers in the darkness of her hood. She seems shrouded in shadow and mist, as if her edges are hard to define. In time, if she approves of the one she speaks to, the gatekeeper removes her hood and shows herself to be a Rattataki woman at about fifty years of age, with tattoos adorning her bare scalp, and curious scars, like lightning frozen in her skin.
In terms of personality, the gatekeeper appears helpful, albeit reluctant to give straight answers. She gives very little of her own history, but is willing to speak on ends about Sith Philosophy. Ophidia will seek to corrupt anyone holding the holocron and induct them in the Sith. Then, when the time is right, she may attempt to take over their body.
- Description: At a glance this item is a pyramid of dark crystal, carved with intricate designs, held together by bands of black metal and fitted with gold details. Anyone knowledgeable in the history of the Sith will see that it is a Sith Holocron. When the holocron is engaged by a force sensitive individual, the crystal will glow a deep red colour. The peak of the pyramid comes to point that is sharp enough to draw blood.
The Codex Umbra contains the mind and experiences of the assassin and SIth Lord Darth Ophidia, as well as being an anchor to her spirit so that she may return from the dead and possess a future holder of the holocron, should the opportunity arise. The main purpose is to ensure that the lore and the ways of the Sith, and of Ophidia herself, are passed on in perpetuity.
- Accessibility: The Codex Umbra feels cold and dead in the hands of a non-force user, but responds to the touch of a force sensitive by giving off a deep, red glow. However, the gatekeeper will not emerge until the one holding it has felt true hatred. However, the second gatekeeper will not appear unless a ritual is performed. If the force-sensitive proves itself ready for initiation in the Sith, the serpent may teach them the initiation ritual.
The ritual in question demands a small blood sacrifice (A drop of blood) and a phrase spoken with sincerity: I pledge myself to your service. - Security:The Codex Umbra has three general layers of defence:
- Tainted Presence: The taint works constantly to corrupt those holding the Codex Umbra, inciting strife in non-force users, and turning force-users toward the dark side. If the holocron is activated, the taint becomes stronger.
(No OC can be turned without their writer’s permission) - Curse the Light: If held by an ardent user of the light side of the Force that they cannot convert, or an owner without use, the holocron may attempt to escape. They will emit a burning sensation to any touch and use the force to hide itself from detection.
- Dark Phantom: If forced by dire circumstance or offered the perfect opportunity, the fragment of Darth Ophidia’s spirit sealed within the holocron will latch on to a body and attempt to take it over. If Darth Ophidia is still alive, the body falls into stasis. If Ophidia is dead, it becomes a vessel for her spirit to possess.
(No OC can be possessed without writer’s consent)
- Tainted Presence: The taint works constantly to corrupt those holding the Codex Umbra, inciting strife in non-force users, and turning force-users toward the dark side. If the holocron is activated, the taint becomes stronger.
The Codex Umbra contains a near complete replica of Darth Ophidia’s mind and, potentially all of her force abilities. To a learner, she will teach:
- The ideology of the Sith: Darth Ophidia’s views and recollections of the views of notable Sith of her time, from the One Sith to the Sith Empire of Darth Carnifex.
- How to: Lightsabres and bleeding a kyber crystal.
- Makashi lessons: Basic to expert.
- Force Stealth: Basic to expert, with various alternative methods.
- Telekinesis: Basic to advanced.
- Mind trick: Basic.
- Force Illusions: Basic.
- About the existence of Sith Alchemy and where to find resources to learn it. With the right resources and some pre-existing knowledge of alchemy, the Codex Umdra may aide in the creation of alchemical items. However, the holocron itself will not teach sith alchemy.
- The Codex Umbra holds the secret to essence transfer, and will use this ability to revive Darth Ophidia, but it will not pass on the skill willingly.
It was the end of the One Sith’s dominion of the Core, when the Jedi and Mandalorians were closing in, and the Sith had all but depleted their resources in the wars against the Galactic Republic. The Dark Council had cracked, and the Pyramid of Mysteries had ordered that all conquerable planets remaining should be set ablaze, and sith assets should be hidden. In these desperate times, Darth Ophidia came to the idea that the Sith may not always keep the upper hand; she, as a custodian of their dark wisdom, had to create a way to insure the secrets of the Sith were passed on in perpetuity. So, she began to construct the Codex Umbra.
It began with her own skills, imparting lessons on the Sith, use of the Force, construction of a lightsabre, and the arts of the Sith Assassin. However, she found it was insufficient for her grand plan, so she went on a quest to find and restore other holocrons and secret places of knowledge, like the library temple of Krayiss Two, the holocron of Darth Krayt, and finally the Holocron of Heresies. It was Andeddu, both from the accounts of Darth Krayt, and in his attempts to free himself inside the temple of Krayiss Two, that inspired Ophidia to make her boldest addition to the Codex Umbra: A fragment of her own soul.
Her quest took years to facilitate as she chipped away at Krayt, Andeddu, and a number of other dead lords who had attempted similar feats. Darth Ophidia scoured Prakith, Fresia, and the Stygian Caldera, using historical conservationists to do her bidding, or simply stealing what she desired. While the project began at the fall of the One Sith, it came into its conclusion during the height of another Sith Empire. As a part of the Sith Emperor’s dark council, Darth Ophidia made the last finishing touches on her holocron. For safe-keeping, the Codex Umbra is stored in Darth Ophidia’s vaults at the Maena Institute.
She knew well now that the Sith would be well taken care of.
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