Teynara Jeralyr
Resident Sig Lord
Acolytes and Apprentices
The post of Acolyte or Apprentice is a little different to that of the Jedi's 'Padawan', in that such individuals have a very clear place within the hierarchy of the Sith Order, and are expected to serve, rather than merely being prepared for such. Jedi Padawans are typically assigned to a single Master, and are largely not separated from their teacher for the purposes of assignment - as Padawans, they are held as trainees, inexperienced and not yet at a level to operate on their own. Their Masters supervise them, continue their training, and also allow the student to benefit from their extensive experience. Acolytes among the Sith are dealt with in a very different fashion, and this needs to be clarified.
Students are initially identified as Force Sensitives and put through rigorous tests to see that they understand what it is to be Sith. This will demand competition among students, one which many do not survive, pushing them to their limits to see if they will hold to their service to the Empire in all circumstances. They must prove themselves physically and psychologically, often humiliated and harmed, expected to demonstrate obedience to their superiors, but also to show sufficient spirit to be able to survive and ascend through the hierarchy. The weak and easily-manipulated will fall quickly, such that only those with the greatest potential are left behind.
Acolytes that have moved through their initial training and issued with a lightsaber are expected to incorporate themselves into the hierarchy as field agents and operatives - they must essentially prove themselves as Sith before rising through the ranks. The ones who fail will ultimately die, whether at the hands of other Sith or merely as a result of their own incompetance. Apprenticeships work a little differently to those of a Jedi: an Apprentice among the Sith is expected to become part of their Master's power base, and be a servant to their will, advancing their aims and working on their Master's behalf. It is a partnership of sorts: one offering training and opportunities for advancement, the other offering their service, and placing themselves at the behest of their teacher.
It is during this stage that a student's 'breaking' is likely to be conducted: the point at which the Master engages in the rigorous testing and deprivation that is required to turn the Acolyte from a being of potential into a truly useful servant, and then into one capable of breaking through those chains to become a Sith in their own right. The means by which this is accomplished can vary: the Master might opt for a direct breaking, with that being the intention, or they might simply throw the student into a serious of assignments designed to test both their usefulness and to push their limits beyond breaking point. Should the student accomplish these successfully, they can have their resentment and anger channelled appropriately, and they may yet become Sith.
Advancement beyond the student ranks comes within this period of service: a student must form connections with others, both within the Sith hierarchy and outside of it; must demonstrate their allegiance to the Empire and those who rule it; must prove their willingness to stand against the enemies of the Empire, and fight bravely in the field. Elimination of one's Master would allow a Sith to take their place within the Sith hierarchy, but this has largely fallen into disuse as a means of advancement, now that the Rule of Two has been broken. Recognition of ability by one's superiors and peers is often sufficient, and battlefield promotion is common for those who stand out in the eyes of the Dark Lord.
Students should not be treated as students during their time in the Acolyte phase: they are your agents, your operatives, given room to spread their wings and prove themselves, but similarly tested with the potential to be broken, or even to fail. Those who cannot meet the requirements of their teachers should be killed as a danger to the Empire, since such will either weaken the ranks or turn against their brethren - such such be put down as you would do a rabid Akk Hound. It is a mercy to do so. Those that survive the deadly trials of the Sith will be broken, but also reborn into something strong: true servants of the Empire. This is the Sith way.