Darth Bane/Legends

"I am the Dark Lord who will restore the Sith to glory. They call me Bane."

- Darth Bane

Darth Bane, born under the name of Dessel on Apatros, was one of the most pivotal Dark Lords of the Sith.

By the time of the Seventh Battle of Ruusan, a thousand years before the Battle of Yavin, Bane was one of the last of the legitimate Sith Lords and, as the only survivor of the battle, reinvented the order after its destruction.

Bane's revolution included the founding of the Rule of Two, a stricture that, in limiting the number of Sith and eliminating the infighting plaguing the order, would allow Bane's eventual successor, Darth Sidious, to finally triumph over the Jedi and the Galactic Republic.

Early life
Born on Apatros to the miner Hurst, Dessel was often bullied by his father and the other miners. Blaming his son for his wife's death, Hurst took to calling him "Bane" out of spite. The young man learned to fend for himself, growing stronger and gaining a penchant for violence. Even at this young age, he felt the calls of the Force and the dark side, though he did not recognize their source.

New Sith Wars
He joined the Brotherhood of Darkness as a regular soldier and was a sergeant in a Sith unit known as the Gloom Walkers, campaigning against Republic forces at such battles as Phaseera. After a mutiny against his incompetent superior Ulabore at Phaseera, Dessel was sentenced to be court-martialled under Lord Kopecz, but was saved from this fate by a mysterious cloaked figure, who offered to take him to Korriban, where he enrolled at the Sith Academy.

Training on Korriban
Bane arrived at the Academy and immediately began to study the ways of the Sith under such Masters as Qordis and the blademaster Kas'im. Despite his late discovery of his Force powers he began to exceed many of the students who had been trained since birth.

Bane would, however, begin to abandon the archives he studied at the beginning of his training in favour of increased focus on physical and mental exercise. He defeated a Makurth named Fohargh, a student who had previously beaten him. He killed his rival with the sheer power of the Force against Kas'im's instruction. This earned him the attention of Sirak, the Academy's most powerful student.

Things would begin to change for the worse however, when Bane realized that he had in fact been reponsible for the death of his father years before. This revalation caused Bane to doubt his ability, and he began to lose his connection to the dark side. Realizing that unless he acted he would fall behind the other students, he rashly challenged Sirak, who proceeded to beat Bane within an inch of his life. Later while in recovery, Bane would wish that Sirak had killed him.

After his loss, Bane was denied the right to train with the other students and was consigned to learning what he could from the archives he had abandoned. It would be while studying them that he would learn more about the Sith and Darth Revan in particular. Bane began to question the direction the Brotherhood of Darkness had taken and why none of the current Sith Lords took the title Darth.

When Githany arrived, he saw his chance to reclaim his place among the other students and she in turn saw him as someone she could use against Sirak, her only real rival at the Academy. At the same time he took up lightsaber combat instruction from Kas'im in secret from Githany. Neither teacher was aware of the other, ensuring that Bane had an edge over both.

As his training progressed, Bane learned far more from the archives at the Academy than he thought possible, supplementing his knowledge of the Force with the teachings of the ancient Sith. In one of their secret tutouring sessions, Githany was amazed at the speed at which Bane not only learned to harness Force lightning, but that in a few short hours he was able to unleash a storm none of the other students (including her) could manage. Kas'im too noted how far Bane was coming with his skill in the art of the saber and believed that soon he may surpass Sirak.

Bane once again entered the challenge ring atop the Academy but this time easily beat Sirak, although he did not kill him. Following his victory, Kas'im presented Bane with the lightsaber that belonged to his master, a Sith named Na'daz who saved the blademaster from slavery on Ryloth. Kas'im also revealed that he killed his master in a personal test of skill and took his weapon as a reminder of what his master taught him.

Once again under the gaze of the Academy Masters, Qordis summoned Bane to his chambers and revealed to the apprentice that he has been aware for some time that Githany was teaching him. Qordis then told Bane that he must stop studying the Archives, something Bane refused to do. The young apprentice then left the Academy for the Valley of the Dark Lords in search of answers.

Bane came to the conclusion that the Brotherhood was flawed. Kaan placed the greater good of the order over the dark side as a whole. Many of the Sith Lords were weaker than Bane himself and yet they carry the title regardless. Bane also learned that Kaan himself forbade any Sith from taking the title Darth as he held that and that alone responsible for the infighting and jealousy that nearly destroyed the Sith thousands of years ago.

After a fruitless two weeks in the Valley, Bane returned empty handed and feeling foolish. He arrived just in time to learn that the students were bound for Ruusan and the battle there. He also nearly fell victim to a trap set by Githany and Sirak, but when Githany saw the power Bane has she changed sides and watched as Bane slew his rival as he begged for his life.

Bane did not leave for Ruusan with the rest of the students and Masters; instead he stole the Valcyn and made his way to Lehon, hoping to find there what he seeks the most: true understanding of the dark side.

Lehon and the Holocron of Revan
Bane would land on Lehon and immediately began his search for the Temple of the Ancients, breaking the will of a young Rancor in the process and using it as his steed. He feels a much stronger connection to the dark side here than he did on Korriban and this only reinforces his belief that the now extinct Rakata were the first race to harness the dark side eons before the Sith rose on Korriban.

Arriving at the Temple, he finds the Holocron of Darth Revan, from this he learns much more about the Sith of the past and formulates a way to ensure the survival of the Order. He will learn from Revan and even from the Brotherhood and once he has destroyed the latter he will create a new and far stronger Order of the Sith Lords that will eventually destroy the Jedi.

Kaan, fearful of Bane and his intentions, dispatches Kas'im to kill his former student. While the Twi'lek Sith Master was undoubtadely the greatest swordsman of his age, he could not match Bane's power in the Force and was killed when his old pupil brought the Temple down on him with the aid of the Force and the dark side.

Bane sends a messanger drone to Ruusan, informing Kaan of Kas'im's death and handing the Sith Lord the weapon of his eventual demise, the incantation of the Thought bomb, one of the many things he learned from Revan's Holocron.

Near death on Ambria
Kaan summons Githany, needing her now more than ever, as he grows more uncertain and unsure. Kaan now believes that victory is certain, with Pernicar dead there is nothing to blunt the antipathy that Hoth and Valenthyne Farfalla feel toward each other and Farfalla and his reinforcements sit in orbit. Kaan has received a message from a seemingly guilt ridden Bane who now wants to join the Brotherhood, Githany believes that the Brotherhood no longer needs Bane and offers to kill him. Kaan agrees and she leaves to meet with him. What Kaan doesn’t share with Githany is the small package Bane also sent as a peace offering, a piece of parchment with the ritual for the Thought bomb written upon it.

Bane has chosen the world of Ambria to meet Kaan's envoy. Scarred long ago by the power of a Sith sorceress who unleashed a wave of dark side energy in a failed ritual, leaving the planet little more than barren rock. Lake Natth, a body of black and poisonous water has become the focus for the dark side energy left on the planet and Bane makes his camp right on its shores. While Bane waits for Kaan’s envoy he considers a question he still cannot answer, once he rids the galaxy of the Brotherhood, where will he find an apprentice worthy of the knowledge he has to impart? When Githany arrives they share a passionate kiss, but Bane tastes the poison on her lips and realizes that Kaan sent her here to kill him, although he doesn’t give that away. Seeing that Githany understands what makes the dark side strong Bane wonders if she could become his apprentice?

He realizes, though, that she believes too strongly in Kaan and the Brotherhood to accept his knowledge. What Bane doesn’t know is that Githany used a lesser poison to cover a far more powerful toxin, synox, an insidious toxin favoured by assassins throughout the galaxy. Weakened by the poison, Bane is unable to heal himself and travels across one of the battlefields located on Ambria trying to drink in the suffering of those who fell there. But the dark side is too faint and even Lake Natth is of no use, its dark side power locked in its cold, black depths by the Jedi. Falling into unconsciousness Bane collapses near death. A small boy named Mikki, along with his father and brothers scavenging the battlefield, finds Bane’s lightsaber. Seeing his chance, Bane uses the Force to control the lightsaber and kills the boys one by one, in so doing he drinks in their father’s horror and anguish, using it cleanse the poison from his body and buy him time to find a permanent cure. Saving the father for last, Bane strikes him down.

But Bane was stronger than Kaan thought, and fought off the effects of the poison long enough to find a cure. Bane finds the healer, Caleb, on Ambria and is at first confounded by his refusal to help him. Caleb has no fear of Bane, and is unafraid of any pain he could inflict. But when Bane finds his daughter and threatens to kill her, Caleb relents and gives Bane his cure. Once healed Bane decides not to kill Caleb or his child, instead he leaves Ambria more determined than ever to wipe out Kaan and his followers.

Ruusan and the destruction of the Sith
Shocked by Darth Bane's return, Kaan agreed to follow Bane's instructions to defeat the Jedi through the power of the dark side. Before the Sixth Battle of Ruusan, the Sith joined together in meditation&mdash;and Darth Bane unleashed a wave of destruction upon the unsuspecting Jedi. Sensing the smothering darkness in Bane's heart, however, the other Sith Lords broke the circle, intending to finish off the Jedi with more conventional tactics.

Bane travels back to the Sith camp to continue his plan to wipe the Sith out. Arriving back in the deserted camp, Bane is confronted by Qordis who offers to help him overthrow Kaan and seize control of the Brotherhood. Disgusted, Bane uses the dark side to choke his former teacher to death and then orders the Sith fleet to quit their blockade and engage the Jedi.

Hoth and his army run in almost blind fear of the inferno following at their heels, those who fall are instantly swallowed up by it. As they emerge from the forest they are met by the Sith, the first ones through, simply being cut down by a torrent of blaster fire. As the Jedi rally and fight back, Hoth knows that the real trap has yet to be sprung, as the Dark Lords are absent from the battle. At that moment they arrive in their fliers and begin to blast the Jedi with heavy cannons, as the Jedi fall back Hoth resolves to make a worthy last stand.

Just as Kaan prepares to kill Hoth with a volley of cannon fire, Farfalla and his gunships arrive and force the Sith to withdraw. On the ground the last remnants of the Sith army are pined down and forced to surrender, while Farfalla himself lands and is taken by surprise when Hoth embraces him in a great bear hug. Bane openly admits that he ordered the Sith fleet to attack the Jedi and break their blockade, in their confrontation Bane actually makes Kaan believe that he is manipulating his mind just as Kaan has the other Sith Lords. Believing that Bane now answers to him, Kaan leads the Sith into the caves of Ruusan where he intends to lure the Jedi into them and unleash the thought bomb. Hoth and Farfalla discover where Kaan is heading, but not the reason why and rally their troops to follow.

Taking stock of his situation, Kaan gathers the remaining Sith Lords and prepares to unleash the though bomb on the pursuing Jedi. Only Githany suspects that something is amiss with the entire situation, but she still takes part in the ritual nonetheless. As she begins to chant with the rest of the Sith, she wrenches her mind free and is at last able to realize that something is terribly wrong and flees the cave.

The Sith troops guarding the cave entrance offer only token resistance and instead surrender in mass, Kopecz, wounded and dying tells Farfalla of Kaan’s plan before demanding a quick death at the hands of the Jedi Master. When Hoth arrives, Farfalla tells him what he has discovered Hoth knows that he will never leave Ruusan alive and asks for volunteers to undertake a suicide mission into the cave to force Kaan to detonate the thought bomb and wipe themselves out. Choosing exactly ninety nine others to accompany him, Hoth leads them into the tunnels and certain death.

Hoth finds Kaan, but is unable to prevent him from actually detonating the thought bomb, the wave of destruction kills Hoth, Kaan, the Jedi in the cave, Githany and every Sith Lord still there. Many miles away, Farfalla and the other Jedi feel Hoth’s death and assembles a team to finish off any Sith survivors.

Bane, also many miles away now knows his plan has worked, with the Jedi unaware of his existence they will think the Sith wiped out, when in fact he will carry on the Order in his own fashion. Still, one question troubles him, where will he find an apprentice to pass on what he has learned?

In the aftermath of the battle, a small girl named Rain who has somehow survived is awoken by her Bouncer, Laa. Her peace is cut short when two Jedi kill the Bouncer in front of her, consumed with anger she uses the Force to kill both of them. Bane finds her sometime later and knows that in her he has found an apprentice worthy of his knowledge.

Bane survived along with Zannah and they stumbled across her cousin Darovit, who tried to stop Bane. Zannah caused Darovit's hand to explode, and Bane questioned her on why she allowed him to live; she replied that she was still young. As a final test, Bane told Zannah to find her own way off Ruusan. They would meet on Onderon, and then, and only then, would she be worthy of joining the Sith.

After Ruusan
"Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody power; the other to crave it."

- Darth Bane



After leaving Ruusan, Bane headed for Onderon in his ship, Valcyn. He hoped to learn secrets from deep inside the tomb of the ancient Sith Lord Freedon Nadd, but his past returned to haunt him. The ghostly spirit of his fomer mentor, Lord Qordis, chided him for abandoning the Brotherhood. Bane insisted that he was only furthering the Sith cause, but Qordis's spirit created a malfunction in the starship controls and Bane plummeted down into the forest of the beast-infested moon of Dxun.

Bane survived the crash, but his ship was destroyed beyond hope of repair. The jungle itself seemed intent on stopping Bane, but he pushed on nonetheless. He was attacked by beasts and monsters, and cried out in frustration.



In reply, surprisingly, the spirit of Lord Kaan appeared to him, offering help. Though in life they had loathed one another, Bane followed Kaan's ghostly silhouette and eventually found himself at the ruined crypt of Freedon Nadd's tomb. He could feel the dark side in the tomb, and knew he would find what he was looking for here. Kaan led him to a Sith holocron, where he was attacked by barnacle-like creatures called orbalisks. They attached themselves to Bane's body, causing tremendous pain as they became a part of him.

After spending days studying from the holocron, Bane exited the tomb with a new vision: not only would there be just two Lords at a time, but the armies and minions the Sith had once relied on would be done away with too; slowly and in secrecy the Sith would erode the Republic until the time was right for them to reveal themselves to the Jedi once more.

Taming a flying beast using the powers of the dark side, he mounted it like the fabled Beast Riders and rode towards the edge of the atmosphere, where he planned to "nudge" the entire moon closer to its planet, Onderon, so he could cross to the inhabited world to find his apprentice.

Eventually, Bane inducted his new apprentice, giving her the name Darth Zannah, and set his new order in motion. Future Sith Lords were taught the virtues of patience, planning, and secrecy, and each was to take on the title of Darth, a tradition that had dated back to before the Jedi Civil War, nearly three millennia ago.

It would not be long, however, that Bane's fledgling order was rediscovered by the Jedi and (once again) thought eliminated. The Jedi discovered both the new Rule of Two and the identity of Darth Bane, but did not foresee that the new Sith he had founded would long survive Bane's death.

Behind the scenes

 * The character of Darth Bane, and his creation of the Rule of Two, were created by George Lucas as part of his backstory of the Sith he developed for the prequel trilogy. Bane's history and other details were elaborated upon by further expanded universe writers, especially Kevin J. Anderson, Darko Macan, and Drew Karpyshyn and also tied in with the battle of Ruusan known from the Dark Forces saga.
 * SuperShadow has stated that Darth Bane was "alive and kicking" (which is impossible, since Bane died before Yoda was even born). He claims that Bane was in hiding, and will appear in his supposed "new" Star Wars trilogy. However, SuperShadow is well known for spreading fanon.

Appearances



 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
 * Jedi vs. Sith
 * Bane of the Sith
 * All for You
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace novelization
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith novelization
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Resurrection