Approved Lore Principles and Ethics of the Dark Side, edited by Velok of Toola

[Velok the Younger]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: An anthology!
• Image Credit: N/A
• Links: Darth Maliphant, Taeli Raaf, Kaalia Pavanos, Siobhan Kerrigan, Tabigarashu Madara, Velok the Younger

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Media Name: Principles and Ethics of the Dark Side
• Format: Book
• Distribution: Scattered (available at various dark side-oriented libraries and academies)
• Length: Long
• Description: This anthology collects writings by five noteworthy dark side-affiliated personalities.

SOCIAL INFORMATION

• Author: Darth Maliphant, Taeli Raaf, Kaalia Pavanos, Siobhan Kerrigan, Tabigarashu Madara, Velok of Toola (editor)
• Publisher: A small publishing firm on Korriban.
• Reception: This is a contentious topic to some. Reception has been mixed.

CONTENT INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION by Velok of Toola, called Velok the Younger

• "The writings in this volume attempt to answer the following question: 'What ethics or principles, if any, should a Darksider use - and why?'"

CHAPTER ONE by Darth Maliphant, Sith Lord

• "A Darksider should mind what drives them, to not get lost in Power for Power's sake, but to keep in mind what they fight for."
• "A show of force should be done only when it benefits you, never for the sake of blind reputation."
• "Never rely on power that is given to you, only on what you claim."
• "Mind the physical world, you'll never know when someone will hit you with a force lizard."
• "Look outside The Force, find something to hone your mind; Doctoring, computer science, biology, even wood working. Commit yourself to anything besides The Force to ground yourself in reality. Not to mention, a backup career never hurts."

CHAPTER TWO by Taeli Raaf, Sith Lord

• "Those who use the darkness must have a goal, tangible, something they can obtain. Abstract concepts like power and prestige are negligible, easy to come by and easy to vanish."
• "One must have and know their limits. It is far to easy to allow the dark to consume you, to let it control your actions. It must be the opposite. The dark must obey the user, the passions that fuel the dark side tightly controlled and harnessed."
• "To have respect, one must gain what they have on their own. It cannot be gifted. It must be built, taken, stolen, and so on to be worth anything and for the Darksider to have learned the lesson in acquiring what they sought to have."
• "Treat other Dark siders as allies if they have earned such a right, but never fully give your trust to them. A dose of paranoia can go a long way, even as you smile and speak with one who thinks they have your complete trust. Secrets are best if only known by one individual."
• "Knowledge is power. There is no higher pursuit than the quest to learn, to grow that knowledge. The Dark Side won't give up its secrets freely, so one must be prepared to do what is necessary to gain the knowledge they seek."
• "Darksiders are ultimately the survivors. The Light preaches self-sacrifice for the greater good. The Dark requires one to scrape and claw for what they have, and those who align with the Dark are reluctant to give it or themselves up."

CHAPTER THREE by Kaalia Pavanos, Sith Lord

• "It is a sad truth that many who would call themselves Sith have forgotten restraint altogether. Go as far as you need to go, but step too far into the recesses of the Dark side and be consumed."
• "The death of another by your hand must have a purpose. To kill without it is to give in to impulse and pleasure, but you will never be satisfied."
• "Question everything. Challenge beliefs. Scrutinize tradition. Live by the lessons of the past without a critical eye and you will live by their flaws as well."
• "To truly be Sith is to have a goal. Pursuing the power of the Dark side without purpose makes you a puppet of that you look to gain."
• "Never blindly follow those who carry a higher prestige. They too may look to use you as a tool for their own goals, to be discarded at any time."

CHAPTER FOUR by Siobhan Kerrigan, Dark Jedi Master, Grandmistress of the Order of Fire

• "When your enemies defy you, serve them fire and steel. But when they bend the knee, help them back to their feet. Otherwise none will submit to you. By the same token, crush those who remain obstinate and give no mercy to traitors. Ideally, a ruler will be feared and loved. The strongest ruler will not disarm herself by trusting in the love of her subjects. She will ensure that they fear betraying her. The strongest can balance both aspects, the next strongest is one who can be feared, the weak will rely on love alone. The worst of all possible outcomes is hatred. The ability to lay waste to population centres or a planet may inspire fear - in the short-term. Long-term it breeds hatred and resistance. Furthermore, a wasteland is not productive. Dead men do not sow, build or pay taxes."
• "The Force is a source of strength, but not of wisdom, understanding of military strategy, business or statecraft. Overreliance breeds addiction. Recognise its shortcomings, educate yourself if you find yourself in a position of power, surround yourself with good counsellors. A counsellor with the courage to voice a contrary opinion and state their case is more useful than a yes-saying lackey who plays it safe. The former may stand by you in a crisis if treated well, the latter is a fairweather friend. Give counsellors autonomy within their spheres, but leave no doubt from where the power flows. When it comes to choosing advisers, generals, ministers and so on, Non-Force-Users are preferrable to Force-Users because they will have had to work for their position and on average be more qualified. Moreover, they can be removed more easily if needs be."
• "If you end up ruler of another people, especially one alien to you, familiarise yourself with the language and local customs. Require the subordinates you put in charge to do the same. Integrate yourself into the native culture. Recruit administrators and sepoys from the local population wherever possible, coopt local power structures. Indirect rule cuts costs, is less wounding to native self-esteem and opens up opportunities."
• "No one is immortal. Vitiate ruled as 'god-emperor' for over a millennia. Palpatine dreamt of conquering death. Both fell in the end. Pursuit of divinity is a fool's errand. Your minions may think you are a deity, but remember you are mortal and that the adoration of the masses is a fickle thing, which gusts and falls as does the wind. If you want what you built to endure beyond your death, set up a succession plan and make arrangements for an orderly transition. Choose a successor on merit."
• "Even if we disregard morality, slavery is inefficient and self-defeating. Labourers forced to serve you have no incentive, unlike minions who follow you out of choice. The best shackles are invisible - and often your minions place them on themselves. But if you set slaves free, ensure they receive jobs, homes and education. Thus they will not be left destitute - and be loyal to you."
• "Other Darksiders make awkward allies. They will not balk when you give them orders others might see as unethical, but their ruthless drive can easily be turned on you. Most will also lack restraint, vision or common sense. Keep some around if they're useful, incentivise them, but don't leave yourself open. Do not let dogma established by long-dead people thousands of years ago blind you to pragmatic alliance with people outside of your alignment spectrum."
• "All rulers need blood hounds to bite and frighten their enemies. Minions who can be relied on to get things done. Treat them well, for they tend to know your secrets. Feed them the tastiest bones, but make sure they stay beneath the table. Put them down if they step out of line."

CHAPTER FIVE, by Tabigarashu Madara, known as Hirou, honorary Sith Knight and diplomat of the Sith Empire

• "A secret acknowledged is a secret given. The safest way to keep something hidden is to never draw attention to its existence in the first place."
• "There is strength in being over looked. But there is wisdom in not ignoring the insignificant, merely because it seems to be so. Those with both of these will find themselves ready for anything."
• "Power has the inclination to blind- that can be eased by the knowledge that in that brilliance, one should not to neglect the dark corners. Both within themselves and in the galaxy around them."
• "Do not grow arrogant as you learn- there is always something you will have missed. Dig deeper. Check under table clothes. Shake out the shoes."
• "Small change can be found in couch cushions. Real change- of either the galaxy or yourself- requires significantly more effort and digging."
• "There is nothing without a use. The challenge is on you to find it. A lack of resources is far more often a lack of imagination."
• "Don't play with your food. If you have decided to kill, then kill. Act without hesitation or remorse. But be certain it is the course worth taking. Bringing people back from the dead is messy and voids their warranty."
• "Find pride in your strengths, faith in your abilities, but watch where you put your feet. The first two won't matter if you trip on marbles simply because you did not recognize your limitations."
• "Friendship. Loyalty. Trust. These things are frequently over looked and under appreciated by adherents of the Dark Side. There is no greater strength than the knowledge that someone will be there when you stumble. Cultivate those relationships where you find them. They are worth the effort."

CONCLUSION by Velok of Toola, called Velok the Younger

• "...as I have noted elsewhere, my ethical stance is as follows. Identify the kind of behavior you find contemptible, and avoid it. Personally, I feel great contempt for sneering arrogance, craven backstabbing, outright cowardice, preening, petty spite, and grasping insecure insatiable possessiveness. I strive to avoid these qualities, as I would prefer not to feel contempt for myself."

HISTORICAL INFORMATION
While pondering his next book, Velok decided to dabble in the creation of anthologies. He solicited input from experienced darksiders in a public forum, and compiled their writings into a coherent volume. He arranged for the book's publication via a small firm on Korriban, then distributed the book at his own expense to various dark side libraries and academies. At least one such academy is believed to have burned the book for even implying that a Sith should have ethics. Others considered it a long game designed to weaken the competition by promoting ethical behavior - and studied it in that light. Still others opted to take the book at face value.

 

[Arekk]

Under review.

[member="Velok the Younger"]

 

[Arekk]

Sweet.

Approved, pending secondary.

[member="Velok the Younger"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Approved