Aspiring Jedi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To create a personal data storage item for use by Tirdarius and his apprentices
Image Source: Original Image
Canon Link: N/A
Restricted Missions: N/A
Primary Source: N/A
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Name: The Tirdarian Codex
Manufacturer: [member="Tirdarius"]
Affiliation: [member="Tirdarius"]
Modularity: None, beyond new entries and information added.
Production: Unique
Materials:
Crafted through a combination of Sith Sorcery and Sith Alchemical processes, the Codex uses ordinary materials: a hardened Rancor-leather binding bonded with a thin layer of Agrinium to allow for the Codex to be locked. The inner pages are formed from bleached vellum, each one thick and heavy to the touch.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Classification: Sith Codex
Size: Handheld
Length: 30cm
Width: 22cm
Height: 5cm
Weight: 4.2kg
CONTENTS
Written as personal journal, knowledge base and spellbook, the Codex has been used to store information ranging from accounts of ancient history (with a Sith bias, naturally) to the blueprints of Oricon Fortress, as well as dossiers on many well-known Sith of Tirdarius' acquaintance, and in-depth information on some of the Force abilities he has at his disposal.
Unusual for a Sith tome, Tirdarius is fairly complimentary of the Jedi in several of the chapters written within the book, making notes of where the two factions divurged, and at the mistakes made by both groups. Within, he advocates that those reading make an effort to give Jedi every opportunity to convert and retreat from their foolishness, rather than simply killing them on-spec, as many Sith would do.
His writing includes guides on how one might be initiated into the ways of the Sith, and how they might proceed either in self-conditioning, or how one might approach being trained by a Master, and what the expectations are of those who would pursue the Sith path. He frequently underscores the importance of Sith Imperialism: the notion that Sith are servants of the Empire, and must seek to craft a disciplined and ordered galaxy, beseeching the reader to remember not to fall into the trap of seeing their own beliefs, powers and ego as being above that aim.
There are several chapters designed to discuss the nature of Force-imbued objects and their properties, as has been a major focus of Tirdarius' personal studies over his decades of being a Sith. These include a breakdown of the various Force-imbued crystals that can be located around the Galaxy, as well as a discussion on the contrast between natural and artificial crystals. He also makes note of the properties of Force-resistant materials (such as Phrik and Cortosis), and discusses the changes that can be expected of different substances when Force energies are applied, both directly and through alchemical rituals. The section concludes with instructions on how to imbue objects with Force energy, as well as on how to use these processes to create a Lightsaber.
With regards to Force Abilities, the tome makes the distinction between Burst and Sustained Telekinesis, and explores the many different skills that can be performed with careful manipulation of telekinetic energies. There are also considerable numbers of pages devoted to the arts of mental manipulation and illusion.
Although primarily used as a knowledge recepticle, the tome is also capable of teaching the nature and incantations necessary for several spells used in the arts of Sith Sorcery, several of which have been woven into the book itself, in order to provide some of its more unique properties:
- The most basic spell contained within the Codex, Consume Essence focuses on enabling the user to draw upon the energies of emotions in order to strengthen themselves. Tirdarius notes that this is done primarily with negative emotions among the Sith (such as fear or hatred), and thus serves as an excellent companion technique to Dun Moch when used in combat.
- A technique partially used to aid in creation of the Codex, Tirdarius observes that, though ancient Sith used this ability as a means of attempting (often unsuccessfully) to survive past their natural lifespan by transferring into the body of another, he also notes that it can be used as a means of imprinting objects with the Force energies of an individual, and could potentially be used to sever another from the Force by stripping their energies into an object. The latter is only a speculation, however.
- Used to remove memories or to replace them with something more suitable, Tirdarius notes that this technique has significant uses in interrogation, training students and infiltrating organisations, enabling one to go where they will and leave no memory of their presence. As such, he considers it one of the more vital abilities that a Sith should learn.
- Concealing one's Dark Side aura in the Force and replacing it with a Light Side variation, the user can therefore infiltrate groups that might have an aversion to the presence of a Dark Side Force user, most notably the Jedi. Tirdarius observes that there are some dangers inherent in using the technique: any Dark Side abilities wielded while using the aura will be detectable, and application of Dark Side energies to the user will cause the illusion to fail outright.
- Concealing oneself from physical observation is another spell Tirdarius recommends for infiltration purposes, but notes that it has several weaknesses: the incantation must be adjusted to compensate for physical noises and scents that may emanate from the user, since the original spell only serves to hide one's appearance, but footsteps might still be detected.
- A technique used both as an aid and as a punishment, Memory Walk allows a Sith Lord to explore the memories of the target individual and force them to relive those memories in exquisite clarity. Tirdarius observes that this is usually used in an offensive fashion, but can also serve to empower a Sith if used upon them: provoking memories of heightened emotion give a Sith a source to draw upon, either directly (in the case of their own memories) or when combined with Consume Essence when used on another.
- A means of obtaining knowledge from a repressed or unwilling subject, this Force technique has also been woven into the Codex itself, to allow the book to 'read' the surface thoughts of anyone in physical contact with it, recording these into the tome directly (though in a limited fashion). Tirdarius observes that, though this skill is capable of searching out the deeper inner thoughts of those targeted by it, the mind can be irreversibly damaged by the technique before the desired information can be extracted, and must often be considered a tool of last resort.
STRENGTHS
- Storage Capacity: capable of storing a near-infinite amount of information, the spells woven into the tome enable it to serve as a vast repository, containing much of Tirdarius' personal journals, thoughts and commentaries. It is unknown precisely how much data the book is capable of storing, but Tirdarius is fairly certain he will not reach the capacity of the book within his lifetime.
- Safeguarded: the book will only open to those attuned to the Dark Side of the Force, and the spirit of the keeper bound within the pages of the Codex is capable of withholding information from the user if it deems them unworthy of it. Those unworthy of the information within will simply find the book blank.
- Easy Addition: due to the modified Drain Knowledge spell placed upon the Codex, a user may add information to the book merely by holding it and envisioning the information they want to inscribe into the box within their mind. Tirdarius notes that, for specific entries, it is best to 'write aloud', so that the book records your thoughts precisely as intended.
- Durable: due to the use of Sith Alchemy in the crafting of the Codex, the book is next to indestructible without the aid of powerful magics designed to unravel those enchantments.
WEAKNESSES
- Drain Knowledge: the application of that particular spell means that users risk having their thoughts unwittingly transcribed into the tome, and it can be used to therefore reveal any concealment that the individual is attempting, since the Tome's Keeper is unable to lie when asked a question, and will reveal any surface thoughts that the user has when asked to.
- Translation Required: Tirdarius has added an additional safeguard to the book by ensuring that all information transcribed into the Codex appears only in High Sith, and reading the book therefore requires the user to be literate in this ancient language, something that few that are not found within the Sith ranks are capable of.
- Difficult to Access: as noted, the Codex has several safeguards designed to prevent the information within from falling into the hands of the unworthy.
- Careful Questioning Required: though there is a considerable amount of information inscribed within the tome, the Keeper will only respond to direct inquiries: vague requests will likely be met with frustration, and so the user must have some sense of what they wish to learn from the Codex in order to obtain information within. Should the questioner fail to use care, the pages of the book will simply appear blank.
- Honest Keeper: due to the nature of the enchantments used on the tome, the Keeper is unable to lie to the reader, and thus, cannot conceal information for which the user is worthy, even if it is inconvenient or awkward. Thus, the present owner of the Codex cannot depend on the tome to keep their personal secrets, since the Keeper will reveal them if asked. Users of the book should be wary of this limitation.
DESCRIPTION
Written as a substitute for a personal Holocron, the Tirdarian Codex was envisioned as a means of storing personal information, lectures on the Sith, archival accounts of Sith history, and those Force techniques in which Tirdarius is personally proficient, and wished to keep account of.
An ordinary book in presentation, the Codex has a hardened black Rancor leather binding coated with a thin agrinium plating to protect the book (and enable it to be sealed with a metallic clasp attached to the lower cover). The inner pages are made of a thick bleached vellum, the edges appearing as though slightly singed, even though their contents are wholly intact. However, no print or images appear on the pages: at first glance, the open tome appears entirely empty.
The book can only be opened by one steeped in Dark Side Force energies: the touch of a Non-Force User or a Light-Side Force User would leave the book sealed and otherwise unremarkable. Though many would imagine this to be an attempt to protect the contents of the Codex, Tirdarius in-fact designed it this way in order to ensure that it would not cause harm to anyone inadvertantly attempting to read the Codex, in keeping with his preference for not injuring those who have committed no offense.
Crafted by the careful weaving of Dark Side energies into the tome, it is fashioned so that information only appears in the tome when summoned via telepathic communication: the user must hold the book in both hands and 'ask' for the information they desire. Should the user be granted access, the information will appear on the vellum written in black ink in Tirdarius' own hand, though all the words are dictated in High Sith, as an additional protection against use by the unworthy.
The knowledge within is safeguarded by the spirit of a Sith Archivist bound into the pages of the book through the 'Transfer Essence' ritual: an alternative offered to allow the errant librarian escape from the death she would otherwise have suffered as punishment for attempting to steal from the Sith Artifact Repository on Korriban. This process purged all emotions and desires upon transfer: the 'keeper' is only capable of assessing the abilities of the Codex's user, and serving their needs should they prove worthy. However, this level of interfacing does allow a certain amount of interaction: the keeper can converse with the one engaging with the tome, and is capable of offering commentary and advice. The Codex's keeper is, however, incapable of lying: though it can conceal and refuse to reveal information to the unworthy, it is not permitted to give false information to the reader.
The tome's most insidious quality comes from the spells woven into the book: upon making direct contact with the cover, the user is subjected to a subtle but limited version of the 'Drain Knowledge' spell. Initially designed to enable Tirdarius to convey large amounts of information to the Codex without having to write it all by hand, it is sometimes used to take knowledge from those who might think to use it without permission. However, the spell is only capable of claiming surface thoughts, and cannot probe the user's mind, only recording what they are thinking about at the time. The individual in question will not be made aware of this probing, however, making it a particularly useful tool for subversive purposes.
Viewed through the Force, the Codex presents no Force Signature: though imbued with Dark Side energy in its creation, it is designed to conceal this from all but those that have been initiated into the Sith ways, and such will sense it only when making contact with the book. Were a Jedi to make contact with the book, they would sense nothing from it, nor be able to access the information within. To all intents and appearances, they would simply find themselves in possession of a sealed book that they are unable to open.
