The Sith Order

[Darth Carnifex]

The Sepulchral Ultima is a powerful and enigmatic Sith religious organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the dark arts and the Sith faith. Rooted in ancient Sith traditions, the Sepulchral Ultima is composed of four specialized branches, each serving a distinct purpose within the order. These branches are known as the Sepulchral Necromancia: The Black Gate, Sepulchral Ecclesia: The White Gate, Sepulchral Arcana: The Blue Gate, and Sepulchral Purgia: The Red Gate. Together, these branches work to expand the influence of the dark side across the Sith Empire, through necromancy, faith, knowledge, and purification.

Structure and Leadership:
The Sepulchral Ultima is led by the Voice of the Dark Side, the supreme authority who rules the entire organization with unchallenged power. The Voice of the Dark Side embodies the will of the dark side, directing the Sepulchral Ultima toward achieving its grand purpose. Beneath the Voice are the Keepers of the Gates, each of whom leads one of the four branches. The Keepers have considerable autonomy within their respective domains but ultimately answer to the Voice of the Dark Side. Together, they form the Circle, an advisory body to assist the Voice in guiding the organization.

Sepulchral Purgia: The Red Gate

The Sepulchral Purgia, also called The Red Gate, is the armed wing of the Sepulchral Ultima, charged with rooting out the unclean and purging Sith society of any form of weakness or corruption. Purgia is dedicated to upholding the purity of Sith ideals and ensuring that no dissent or treachery takes root among its ranks. Members of Purgia act as inquisitors and enforcers, identifying and eliminating those who fall short of the Sith's standards or who threaten to undermine the Empire. The Red Gate embodies the cleansing fire that purges impurity, ensuring that only the strongest and most devoted Sith remain within the order, and that the Sith Empire remains resilient against internal threats.

Leader: Keeper of the Red Gate Quintessa Zambrano
Capital: Mustafar
Specializations:

• Inquisitor
• Enforcer
• Oathkeeper
• Purifier

Sepulchral Arcana: The Blue Gate

The Sepulchral Arcana, known as The Blue Gate, is the branch charged with safeguarding the secrets of the Sepulchral and the dark knowledge held within. Members of Arcana are responsible for ensuring that the organization's sacred knowledge remains hidden from those who are not part of its ranks, thus protecting its power from being misused. Arcana also performs dark rituals to empower its followers, granting them enhanced abilities and furthering their connection to the dark side. Additionally, Arcana is involved in the creation of dark artifacts, using Sith alchemy to imbue objects with immense power for use in battle and rituals, ensuring that the Sith remain equipped with the tools necessary for conquest and domination.

Leader: Keeper of the Blue Gate
Capital: Aing-Tii
Specializations:

• Oracle
• Illusionist
• Spellbinder
• Lorekeeper

Sepulchral Necromancia: The Black Gate

The Sepulchral Necromancia, known as The Black Gate, is devoted to the implementation of Sith Alchemy and the creation of the undead. Its members use ancient alchemical techniques to reanimate the dead and craft horrifying Sithspawn, forging an undead army bound by dark power. Necromancia not only creates these undead legions but also trains its members to command and marshal them in battle, making them an integral force on the battlefield. The Black Gate represents the mastery of death and the manipulation of life, turning the unliving into instruments of Sith will.

Leader: Keeper of the Black Gate
Capital: Dagobah
Specializations:

• Necroshaper
• Fleshweaver
• Blightsmith
• Bloodbinder

Sepulchral Ecclesia: The White Gate

The Sepulchral Ecclesia, also called The White Gate, is the spiritual heart of the Sepulchral Ultima. Its primary mission is to spread the faith of the Sith across the Empire and beyond, converting new followers and deepening the devotion of the faithful. Ecclesia conducts elaborate and powerful rituals designed to strengthen the commitment of followers to the dark side, ensuring that Sith philosophy and teachings remain central to the lives of all Sith and their subjects. Ecclesia assigns a single Sepulchral priest to each Sith Lord within the Empire, acting as both spiritual advisor and watchman on behalf of the Sepulchral.

Leader: Keeper of the White Gate
Capital: Imynusoph
Specializations:

• Prelate
• Ritualist
• Chronicler
• Mortuarist

Objectives:
The Sepulchral Ultima is dedicated to advancing the influence of the Sith and the dark side through four core objectives:

1. Necromancia (The Black Gate) seeks to create and control vast armies of the undead, implementing Sith alchemy to bolster the Sith's power on the battlefield.
2. Ecclesia (The White Gate) aims to spread the faith of the Sith, bringing new believers into the fold while solidifying loyalty among the Sith's existing subjects.
3. Arcana (The Blue Gate) protects the secrets of the Sepulchral Ultima, conducting rituals to empower followers and crafting dark artifacts to ensure the continuity of Sith supremacy.
4. Purgia (The Red Gate) is focused on purging weakness and corruption from Sith society, maintaining internal discipline and purity within the ranks of the Sith.

Operations and Influence:
The Sepulchral Ultima operates as a secretive yet influential force within the Sith Empire, executing missions that range from spiritual indoctrination to alchemical experimentation and purification of dissent. Their influence reaches beyond its visible operations, serving as the spiritual and moral compass for Sith warriors and leaders. Their activities take place in dark temples, hidden laboratories, and even public ceremonies, their presence felt both in battle and within the sanctified halls of Sith-occupied worlds. They have a presence on core Sith worlds such as Korriban, Ziost, and Dromund Kaas, but their reach extends into all parts of the Sith Empire where the dark side needs strengthening.

Internal Dynamics:
Internally, the Sepulchral Ultima maintains a balance of power among its branches, each of which has a distinct but complementary role. The Voice of the Dark Side holds absolute power, but the Keepers of the Gates manage their domains with significant autonomy. The four branches are both interdependent and competitive, often trying to prove their value by surpassing the others in dedication to the Sith cause.

Necromancia and Purgia often work in tandem, with Necromancia providing the undead forces that Purgia uses in its purges, while Ecclesia conducts rituals to empower both. Arcana is the branch that bridges the mystical and practical sides of the organization, crafting the dark artifacts used by Purgia and enhancing the rituals of Ecclesia. This interplay fosters a sense of unity, even while rivalry encourages each branch to grow stronger.

Despite their shared purpose, there is an ongoing power struggle beneath the surface, with each Keeper seeking to gain the favor of the Voice of the Dark Side. This tension is controlled and even encouraged by the Voice to ensure that only the strongest and most capable rise to prominence. This dynamic keeps the Sepulchral Ultima sharp and unwavering in its pursuit of absolute power, forever seeking to deepen its influence within the Sith Empire and beyond.