The Cinder Hierophant
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
SETTING INFORMATION
The Town of Desolous: At the shore of Lake Meqsed sits a quiet collection of ramshackle buildings. This town serves as the Palace of Silver Rain's point of contact with the wider galaxy. A small spaceport can be found here: the only landing pads for miles. A marketplace services the initiates and teachers who come down from the mountains for rest and to resupply. Many ordinary Sith citizens service and upkeep the grounds of the Palace, or work as servants for the instructors; their families live here, and see them often. In more respectable abodes live many families of Silver Rain trainees. Any trainee who reaches the rank of Acolyte earns a house and place for their family within the nobility of Desolous. In contrast to Jedi teaching, the Palace of Silver Rain encourages frequent visits to family. These remind an Acolyte that their family status and loved ones' honor depend on their continued loyalty and dedication.
The Shales: To the casual observer, idyllic grasslands and marshes in a beautiful countryside. To the trainees of the Sith Order... the deepest pit of Hell. Neophytes brought into the Order, with no prior training and only Force Sensitivity to their name, begin their journey here. Cruel overseers do their best to break those placed here under their care. Unforgiving physical training is accompanied with a stringent and optimized diet, much of which students must gather and hunt themselves. There are no structures raised in the Shales: trainees live in the wilds, while overseers take shelter from the elements within repulsor units- speeder transports carrying small apartments. The freezing nights, drenching rain, and howling winds must transform from constant adversity to barely noticeable realities; only then can a Neophyte begin to progress in his training.
The Rivergrounds: When a trainee is advanced from the Shales, they earn the title Tyro of the Sith, and can begin their journey through the Palace mountains. Their body strengthened and mind hardened, they must now work to deepen their connection to the Force. The site of this connection is the Rivergrounds- stream crossed foothills where the shaded forest battles riverstone cliffs for control of the terrain. The buildings here are isolated, simple, and many constructed by Initiates, who may train as a group or individually. Much of this period of their training is self-guided, though instructors stand ready to offer counsel... or facilitate trial by combat for those who wish to advance.
The Grey Annex: Where thin mountain air sees the thinning of the forest, amidst clifftops and lower peaks sit the Annex buildings. These structures were built expressly for the use of the Sith Order's many sects. Built of finer material and superior elegance, a Tyro who reaches the Annex has the opportunity to learn from many different traditions and philosophies. Some sects choose to teach only those who swear allegiance, others hold intense admission tests before offering an Initiate aid. All sects are requested (though not required,) by the Palace of Silver Rain to teach at least rudimentary lessons to any who seek them and prove worthy. The Sith Eternal, notably, instruct all seekers who make it to the Annex in basic combat sorcery, regardless of affiliation.
The Temple Proper: Any Tyro who is judged to have made sufficient progress under the tutelage of at least one Sect Annex may be recommended by that Annex. They will be tested at what is referred to as the Temple Proper: the literal Palace of Silver Rain, which sits atop one of the higher peaks in the range. Beautiful in its simplistic opulence, this temple houses visiting Darths and Sith Lords, as well as permanent masters and teachers. The Silver Council, who lead and guide the Palace, forsake the politics and intrigue of varying sects to pursue the greater good of the Sith Order as a whole. Infighting is frowned upon within the holdings of the Palace, but within these iridescent halls, it is abhorred, strictly forbidden. Here can be found libraries, advanced medical facilities, classrooms, training grounds and dedicated chambers for isolated training. Should a Tyro be judged ready and worthy by the Silver Council, he will earn the title Acolyte of the Sith. He will be afforded full access to the Temple Proper's resources, as he begins the process of becoming a Sith Apprentice or Scion.
INDEX OF SECT ANNEX FACILITIES
WIP
SITH TRAINEE HIERARCHY
Neophyte
SECURITY: Medium
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
WIP
- Intent: Creating an academy for every subfaction of the Sith Order, to facilitate collaboration between sects, centered around rivalry and training.
- Image Credit: Original Artist
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Name: Palace of Silver Rain
- Classification: Sith training grounds and academic campus
- Location: Saijo
- Affiliation: The Sith Order
- Population: Moderate
- Demographics: The bulk of the population living within the Palace holdings are the residents of Desolous, and Neophyte level trainees. Students become more rare as one moves up the ladder of skill and privilege, with the minority of denizens being masters, instructors, and visiting knights honing their skills. The civilian residents of Desolous and the surrounding holdings are evenly split between two racial and cultural groups: the Tof and the Nagai.
- Accessibility: The surrounding region and mountain range are sparsely populated, making the hidden community quite isolated by nature. Outsiders are constantly watched and can expect a hostile welcome from the little town at the lakeshore.
- Description: Spread out across a jagged mountain range and the verdant lake country beneath it, an independent coalition within the Sith Order seeks to grow and prosper the next generation of Dark Side practitioners. Steadfastly neutral in the face of factional politics, here the only teachings presented as doctrine are those upon which all Sith agree- the very foundations of the Order itself.
The Town of Desolous: At the shore of Lake Meqsed sits a quiet collection of ramshackle buildings. This town serves as the Palace of Silver Rain's point of contact with the wider galaxy. A small spaceport can be found here: the only landing pads for miles. A marketplace services the initiates and teachers who come down from the mountains for rest and to resupply. Many ordinary Sith citizens service and upkeep the grounds of the Palace, or work as servants for the instructors; their families live here, and see them often. In more respectable abodes live many families of Silver Rain trainees. Any trainee who reaches the rank of Acolyte earns a house and place for their family within the nobility of Desolous. In contrast to Jedi teaching, the Palace of Silver Rain encourages frequent visits to family. These remind an Acolyte that their family status and loved ones' honor depend on their continued loyalty and dedication.
The Shales: To the casual observer, idyllic grasslands and marshes in a beautiful countryside. To the trainees of the Sith Order... the deepest pit of Hell. Neophytes brought into the Order, with no prior training and only Force Sensitivity to their name, begin their journey here. Cruel overseers do their best to break those placed here under their care. Unforgiving physical training is accompanied with a stringent and optimized diet, much of which students must gather and hunt themselves. There are no structures raised in the Shales: trainees live in the wilds, while overseers take shelter from the elements within repulsor units- speeder transports carrying small apartments. The freezing nights, drenching rain, and howling winds must transform from constant adversity to barely noticeable realities; only then can a Neophyte begin to progress in his training.
The Rivergrounds: When a trainee is advanced from the Shales, they earn the title Tyro of the Sith, and can begin their journey through the Palace mountains. Their body strengthened and mind hardened, they must now work to deepen their connection to the Force. The site of this connection is the Rivergrounds- stream crossed foothills where the shaded forest battles riverstone cliffs for control of the terrain. The buildings here are isolated, simple, and many constructed by Initiates, who may train as a group or individually. Much of this period of their training is self-guided, though instructors stand ready to offer counsel... or facilitate trial by combat for those who wish to advance.
The Grey Annex: Where thin mountain air sees the thinning of the forest, amidst clifftops and lower peaks sit the Annex buildings. These structures were built expressly for the use of the Sith Order's many sects. Built of finer material and superior elegance, a Tyro who reaches the Annex has the opportunity to learn from many different traditions and philosophies. Some sects choose to teach only those who swear allegiance, others hold intense admission tests before offering an Initiate aid. All sects are requested (though not required,) by the Palace of Silver Rain to teach at least rudimentary lessons to any who seek them and prove worthy. The Sith Eternal, notably, instruct all seekers who make it to the Annex in basic combat sorcery, regardless of affiliation.
The Temple Proper: Any Tyro who is judged to have made sufficient progress under the tutelage of at least one Sect Annex may be recommended by that Annex. They will be tested at what is referred to as the Temple Proper: the literal Palace of Silver Rain, which sits atop one of the higher peaks in the range. Beautiful in its simplistic opulence, this temple houses visiting Darths and Sith Lords, as well as permanent masters and teachers. The Silver Council, who lead and guide the Palace, forsake the politics and intrigue of varying sects to pursue the greater good of the Sith Order as a whole. Infighting is frowned upon within the holdings of the Palace, but within these iridescent halls, it is abhorred, strictly forbidden. Here can be found libraries, advanced medical facilities, classrooms, training grounds and dedicated chambers for isolated training. Should a Tyro be judged ready and worthy by the Silver Council, he will earn the title Acolyte of the Sith. He will be afforded full access to the Temple Proper's resources, as he begins the process of becoming a Sith Apprentice or Scion.
INDEX OF SECT ANNEX FACILITIES
WIP
SITH TRAINEE HIERARCHY
Neophyte
There are a few benchmarks every overseer attempts to reach with every Neophyte in their care. Firstly, they must reach a near-peak level of physical fitness; a daunting task anywhere else, but the bare minimum here. Second, Neophytes must become comfortable with physical violence. Beings who are not accustomed to conflict and confrontation will not last long in the Shales. Finally, a Neophyte must be able to feel the Dark Side rising and falling in power, as violence escalates and tempers flare. If a Neophyte cannot reach these benchmarks, they cannot progress.
TyroA Sith Tyro is one who can apply their general proclivities into actual skills. Adaptation for melee combat must transform into actual martial arts prowess, as they train with staff and stave. The accidental burst of physical strength or occasional flare of lightning they experienced as a Neophyte must begin to take shape as powers upon which they can reliably call. A Tyro should spend much time seething and in meditation, to deepen their awareness of the Dark Side as an ever-present Force. If they cannot reach this level of awareness, no Sect Annex will ever deem them ready to train under their roof. Once a Tyro has earned a place in at least one Sect Annex, they have become something more.
AcolyteHaving been prepared and refined by one or multiple Sith Sects within the Palace Annex, the Acolyte has become an individual. When we speak of Sith Neophytes and Tyro, we speak of possessions which belong to the Sith. When we speak of Sith Acolytes, we refer to people who are Sith. Acolyte wield blades of real sithsteel, have developed and begun to refine their own sorcery, and are capable of grasping the larger goals and designs of the Sith beyond their own personal growth. This is the earliest a trainee may be eligible to travel off-planet, for a mission or permanent assignment with a sect who wishes to sponsor them. Acolytes are often taken on as apprentices to Sith Knights.
ScionThe Sith Scion is a large fish in a small pond. These are the greatest among Acolytes, who have achieved power and skill rivalling a true Sith Apprentice. Nearing the skill of a Lower Knight, most Sith Knights will not take on a Scion as an apprentice, as the gap in ability is too small. As agents of the Sith, Scions serve with distinction, jealously awaiting the day a Dark Lord or Lady acknowledges their potential and power...
ApprenticeTaken as the personal student of a Sith Lord or Lady, an Apprentice should be skilled with both blade and sorcery. As their liege's will made manifest, they might serve as an assassin, field commander, ambassador, or spy. A wide swath of talent and applicable skill makes the Apprentice a notable Sith in their own right, provided they do not choke on their own aspirations.
SECURITY: Medium
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
WIP
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