Darth Shadow
An Ancient Evil
NAME: Original name; Valentai. Current name/title; Darth Shadow
FACTION: Sith Empire
RANK: Sith Lord
SPECIES: Human
AGE: In appearance; 70s. Technically almost 5000 years old. Currently ageless.
GENDER: Male
HEIGHT: 187cm
WEIGHT: 72kg
EYES: Blue
HAIR: White
SKIN: Pale
FORCE SENSITIVE: Extremely.
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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:
Strengths:
BIOGRAPHY:
Holo-record of Jedi Master Phylis Alince.
Subject: Darth Shadow
What biography could reasonably tell the life of someone whose memory goes back all the way to the ancient Sith Empire over 5000 years ago? A very long one, no doubt, but this record shall make some summaries of the life of one Valentai, later Darth Shadow.
Information about his birth and early life are almost impossible to find since he was born in the time of Old Sith Empire before the Treaty of Coruscant. It is clear that the only one who knows the truth is Shadow himself, and he has not been forthcoming!
What is known is that Shadow grew up named Valentai on Dromund Kaas some decades before the Mandalorian Wars in the galaxy outside. Growing up to powerful, noble parents, Valentai was sent to schools and academies to make him a loyal Imperial servant and leader. It was soon discovered though that the boy had considerable Force potential. Therefore, he was sent to the academy on Dromund Kaas, and there began his road to terrible glory.
It is known that his innate cunning manifested itself early, as did his inherent lack of morality. One story he himself tells is of when he once made a friend of an outcast student, only to frame him for treason when he was no longer useful.
Valentai graduated as a Sith and was trained by a Sith Mistress named Karsax. She was cruel and proud, and the young apprentice became moulded by this personality. All Sith have an overwhelming emotion which drives them or else they would not do such things. Shadow’s failing was pride and fear, like so many.
Much of the next part of the story is missing, but it is known that at the age of 35 Valentai was made a Sith Lord after discovering a plot his Master had been making to strike down one of the Dark Council. Personally striking her down, he was named Darth Shadow and became an agent of the Sith.
Shadow, as he was referred to ever afterwards, showed his powers of manipulation and strength in the Force, and was put in charge of vital missions by the Dark Council. In this time, before Revan and Malak came to Dromund Kaas, the Emperor was rarely seen, even by the Dark Council. Rumours, possibly started by the Emperor himself, suggested that there was no Emperor at all, and this he was just a cloak which the Sith Lords used to cloak their actions.
Shadow, still young and brash, could not believe that anyone, no matter how powerful could still be alive after so many centuries. His own investigations had proven fruitless on the matter so he concluded that indeed the Emperor did not exist. It was a grave error.
Using his powers of manipulation he summoned a cabal of disaffected lords and leaders, aiming to confront the Dark Council and force their demands on them, unwittingly following in the footsteps of Darth Lokess’ failed coup.
As they forced their way into the Dark Council’s chambers Shadow declared that the Emperor was merely a fiction, and that the Sith Empire needed new leadership. At that moment a secret compartment opened, and a figure came forth. It was immediately apparent from the strength in the Force that this was no fiction. Effortlessly, the Emperor destroyed Shadow’s confederates and made the Dark Council grovel before him.
Shadow though was not slain, though he did not beg for mercy. The Emperor tortured him for some time before placing a terrible curse on him. The exact words are lost, but they are believed to be similar to;
“All that happens in my domain is known to me, petty Sith. You doubt the power of the Dark Side, you doubt my strength. Allow me to show you the true nature of the Force.”
And so Shadow was taken to the bowels of the palace and imprisoned in a terrible Sith device known as the Oubliette of Eternity. Powered by arcane spells and the power of the Sith Emperor it sealed the victim into the chamber, fully conscious but unable to move or act, and to keep them alive forever in this state. This particularly cruel torment was intended to be eternal, yet ironically inside it Darth Shadow outlived even the ‘immortal’ Emperor.
Centuries passed. Then millennia. The Sith Empire rose and fell, Sith and Jedi came and went and the millions of those Force users lived and died never knowing that there was one who remained alive from those early days.
The Prophets of the Dark Side took over control of the ruined world of Dromund Kaas, but they never penetrated deep into the depths of the ruined citadel. It was not until four hundred years after the Battle of Yavin, in the golden age before the Gulag virus that an expedition landed on Dromund Kaas. These people were, to be blunt, treasure hunters, and they knew that Sith arcana and objects were worth a lot to the Jedi and to private collectors.
Deep in the ruins of the Citadel the party came to a sealed door and demolished it. Inside they found a black sarcophagus. Attempts to open it at first failed until an enterprising looter broke off a valuable looking item which was in fact one of the Sith artefacts sealing the oubliette shut.
The coffin opened, and Shadow was awakened. I will not speculate on how thousands of years would effect a person, but it likely would not improve their temper. Overcome with madness and profound shock, Shadow unleashed all his pent up anger on the unfortunate looters and destroyed them all in a torrent of lightning and dark energy, bringing down the great building in his uncontrolled fury.
Of the next years it is not known in great detail. Somehow the Sith Lord escaped the citadel’s ruins as it collapsed around him, and vanished into the swamps. Shadow himself has never spoken of this time, and there are no sentient witnesses. However, it seems that for nearly thirty years he became something of a hermit in the jungles, adapting to the new world and to life in the waking world. He looted secret places only he knew of, but even so there was little left to find. He does claim that he died during this time and his spirit floated free, but I put this down to creative license.
Whatever he did it seems that in this time he gained some control of himself and accessed information on the treasure hunter’s ship. Thus, when another ship landed he was able to destroy them and take over the ship by using the droids. However, he was pursued and the Eldorai Jedi Knight Malya Helindan confronted Shadow on Korriban but was blinded by the Sith Lord, who was nonetheless forced to flee.
As the Gulag Virus consumed the galaxy Shadow put his plans into motion. His long torment did have the advantage of meaning he could focus his mind on all that he could remember from his youth. Combined with stolen artefacts on Korriban and Dromund Kaas, he spent almost ten years in close study of the Force in the Dark Side rich tombs of Korriban, finally finding a way to extend his lifespan. In effect it was using a tiny spark of the ritual the Sith Emperor had used to obtain immortality. By feeding off the death the Gulag Virus inflicted on the galaxy, he was able to prolong his life far beyond its natural span, though never to achieve actual immortality as he never had the skills for that.
However, despite his efforts, he was still aging, so Shadow called on the Force to put himself into a deathlike state to meditate further and to await the return of the Sith….
And so for centuries he waited until, presumably, the reborn Sith awakened him. That was when I started having direct dealings with him. I have reason to suspect that Darth Keraunos, Kaelin Isandros, was first found by him and twisted to become a loyal servant of his. I also have reason to suspect that Siobhan Kerrigan encountered Shadow and twisted her mind into killing two Jedi, for which she was exiled to Bartusk.
The current movements of the Sith Lord are unknown. It was suspected that he had been destroyed during his struggles with Siobhan, but this seems unlikely. This Sith Lord is a very considerable threat to the Jedi Order and the galaxy. He should be apprehended or destroyed on sight.
Phylis Alince
FACTION: Sith Empire
RANK: Sith Lord
SPECIES: Human
AGE: In appearance; 70s. Technically almost 5000 years old. Currently ageless.
GENDER: Male
HEIGHT: 187cm
WEIGHT: 72kg
EYES: Blue
HAIR: White
SKIN: Pale
FORCE SENSITIVE: Extremely.
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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:
Strengths:
- Powerful command of the Force. Having been a Sith Master already for many years before his banishment and since his return, he has a formidable control over many elements of the Force. He is especially strong in the areas of deception, shielding his power from others, draining life force and lightning.
- Ancient knowledge. As an actual survivor of an ancient time, Shadow is in possession knowledge that few, if any, have in this time. His collection of ancient artefacts and texts is extremely extensive and almost unique.
- Patience and cunning. Shadow’s particular abilities are patience and cunning even without the Force. He thinks in terms of years and decades rather than instant actions. He is quite capable of overlooking defeats to see the bigger plan, and always has a backup plan in mind.
- Physically decrepit. An old man, and even with the Force he lacks the physical prowess some might call on. He is no lightsabre duellist, and without the Force he would be easily defeated. Much like Dooku and Palpatine, his power is with the Force and his mind, not mere strength.
- Behind the Times. Though it has been many years since his reawakening, there are times when Shadow finds it hard to grasp the new galaxy. Leaning on his old experiences sometimes at the expense of new ones, change can unsettle him.
- Untrustworthy and manipulative. Shadow is not someone that can be relied upon to keep his word, or have any concept of honour or humanity. To Shadow the galaxy is a chessboard of infinite complexity. All things are pieces, some to be humoured and obeyed, others to be used and discarded.
- Mortal. Despite being ageless, Shadow is not immortal. He can be slain, and his strength is not limitless. Despite his efforts he has not formed a plan to protect himself against certain death.
- Pride. While having the virtue of patience, Shadow suffers from the sin of pride. He feels he is simply above all others, and that they exist for his use and power, nothing more. His pride in his own power can make him overconfident and dismissive of others.
- Madness. Suffice it to say, Shadow is just a little insane. Centuries of imprisonment turned him and made him into a powerful force of will, but one who was never quite normal again.
BIOGRAPHY:
Holo-record of Jedi Master Phylis Alince.
Subject: Darth Shadow
What biography could reasonably tell the life of someone whose memory goes back all the way to the ancient Sith Empire over 5000 years ago? A very long one, no doubt, but this record shall make some summaries of the life of one Valentai, later Darth Shadow.
Information about his birth and early life are almost impossible to find since he was born in the time of Old Sith Empire before the Treaty of Coruscant. It is clear that the only one who knows the truth is Shadow himself, and he has not been forthcoming!
What is known is that Shadow grew up named Valentai on Dromund Kaas some decades before the Mandalorian Wars in the galaxy outside. Growing up to powerful, noble parents, Valentai was sent to schools and academies to make him a loyal Imperial servant and leader. It was soon discovered though that the boy had considerable Force potential. Therefore, he was sent to the academy on Dromund Kaas, and there began his road to terrible glory.
It is known that his innate cunning manifested itself early, as did his inherent lack of morality. One story he himself tells is of when he once made a friend of an outcast student, only to frame him for treason when he was no longer useful.
Valentai graduated as a Sith and was trained by a Sith Mistress named Karsax. She was cruel and proud, and the young apprentice became moulded by this personality. All Sith have an overwhelming emotion which drives them or else they would not do such things. Shadow’s failing was pride and fear, like so many.
Much of the next part of the story is missing, but it is known that at the age of 35 Valentai was made a Sith Lord after discovering a plot his Master had been making to strike down one of the Dark Council. Personally striking her down, he was named Darth Shadow and became an agent of the Sith.
Shadow, as he was referred to ever afterwards, showed his powers of manipulation and strength in the Force, and was put in charge of vital missions by the Dark Council. In this time, before Revan and Malak came to Dromund Kaas, the Emperor was rarely seen, even by the Dark Council. Rumours, possibly started by the Emperor himself, suggested that there was no Emperor at all, and this he was just a cloak which the Sith Lords used to cloak their actions.
Shadow, still young and brash, could not believe that anyone, no matter how powerful could still be alive after so many centuries. His own investigations had proven fruitless on the matter so he concluded that indeed the Emperor did not exist. It was a grave error.
Using his powers of manipulation he summoned a cabal of disaffected lords and leaders, aiming to confront the Dark Council and force their demands on them, unwittingly following in the footsteps of Darth Lokess’ failed coup.
As they forced their way into the Dark Council’s chambers Shadow declared that the Emperor was merely a fiction, and that the Sith Empire needed new leadership. At that moment a secret compartment opened, and a figure came forth. It was immediately apparent from the strength in the Force that this was no fiction. Effortlessly, the Emperor destroyed Shadow’s confederates and made the Dark Council grovel before him.
Shadow though was not slain, though he did not beg for mercy. The Emperor tortured him for some time before placing a terrible curse on him. The exact words are lost, but they are believed to be similar to;
“All that happens in my domain is known to me, petty Sith. You doubt the power of the Dark Side, you doubt my strength. Allow me to show you the true nature of the Force.”
And so Shadow was taken to the bowels of the palace and imprisoned in a terrible Sith device known as the Oubliette of Eternity. Powered by arcane spells and the power of the Sith Emperor it sealed the victim into the chamber, fully conscious but unable to move or act, and to keep them alive forever in this state. This particularly cruel torment was intended to be eternal, yet ironically inside it Darth Shadow outlived even the ‘immortal’ Emperor.
Centuries passed. Then millennia. The Sith Empire rose and fell, Sith and Jedi came and went and the millions of those Force users lived and died never knowing that there was one who remained alive from those early days.
The Prophets of the Dark Side took over control of the ruined world of Dromund Kaas, but they never penetrated deep into the depths of the ruined citadel. It was not until four hundred years after the Battle of Yavin, in the golden age before the Gulag virus that an expedition landed on Dromund Kaas. These people were, to be blunt, treasure hunters, and they knew that Sith arcana and objects were worth a lot to the Jedi and to private collectors.
Deep in the ruins of the Citadel the party came to a sealed door and demolished it. Inside they found a black sarcophagus. Attempts to open it at first failed until an enterprising looter broke off a valuable looking item which was in fact one of the Sith artefacts sealing the oubliette shut.
The coffin opened, and Shadow was awakened. I will not speculate on how thousands of years would effect a person, but it likely would not improve their temper. Overcome with madness and profound shock, Shadow unleashed all his pent up anger on the unfortunate looters and destroyed them all in a torrent of lightning and dark energy, bringing down the great building in his uncontrolled fury.
Of the next years it is not known in great detail. Somehow the Sith Lord escaped the citadel’s ruins as it collapsed around him, and vanished into the swamps. Shadow himself has never spoken of this time, and there are no sentient witnesses. However, it seems that for nearly thirty years he became something of a hermit in the jungles, adapting to the new world and to life in the waking world. He looted secret places only he knew of, but even so there was little left to find. He does claim that he died during this time and his spirit floated free, but I put this down to creative license.
Whatever he did it seems that in this time he gained some control of himself and accessed information on the treasure hunter’s ship. Thus, when another ship landed he was able to destroy them and take over the ship by using the droids. However, he was pursued and the Eldorai Jedi Knight Malya Helindan confronted Shadow on Korriban but was blinded by the Sith Lord, who was nonetheless forced to flee.
As the Gulag Virus consumed the galaxy Shadow put his plans into motion. His long torment did have the advantage of meaning he could focus his mind on all that he could remember from his youth. Combined with stolen artefacts on Korriban and Dromund Kaas, he spent almost ten years in close study of the Force in the Dark Side rich tombs of Korriban, finally finding a way to extend his lifespan. In effect it was using a tiny spark of the ritual the Sith Emperor had used to obtain immortality. By feeding off the death the Gulag Virus inflicted on the galaxy, he was able to prolong his life far beyond its natural span, though never to achieve actual immortality as he never had the skills for that.
However, despite his efforts, he was still aging, so Shadow called on the Force to put himself into a deathlike state to meditate further and to await the return of the Sith….
And so for centuries he waited until, presumably, the reborn Sith awakened him. That was when I started having direct dealings with him. I have reason to suspect that Darth Keraunos, Kaelin Isandros, was first found by him and twisted to become a loyal servant of his. I also have reason to suspect that Siobhan Kerrigan encountered Shadow and twisted her mind into killing two Jedi, for which she was exiled to Bartusk.
The current movements of the Sith Lord are unknown. It was suspected that he had been destroyed during his struggles with Siobhan, but this seems unlikely. This Sith Lord is a very considerable threat to the Jedi Order and the galaxy. He should be apprehended or destroyed on sight.
Phylis Alince