User:Darth Xadún/Tool Shed

Sirak
"I do not issue challenges. I have no need to test myself against a lesser opponent."

- Sirak

Sirak was a male Zabrak who trained as a Sith apprentice at the Academy on Korriban during the New Sith Wars. For much of his time at the Academy he was the top apprentice, favored by many of the Sith Masters, particularly Qordis.

Sirak was reknowned at the Academy for his strength in the dark side and his skills in lightsaber combat. He developed a rival in the apprentice Bane, whom Sirak believed was one of the few students that could eventually challenge his place at the Academy. When Bane lost his own favor with the Masters for withdrawing from the dark side, he sought to re-establish his position by challanging Sirak. The Zabrak defeated his Human opponent easily, and from then on, disregarded him as a former threat to his standing.

Several weeks later, Sirak was challenged by Bane again. He was unaware that Bane had received secret training from Kas'im, the Academy's Blademaster, in preparation for seeking his revenge for his earlier loss. Bane's secret training allowed him to fully manipulate the duel, drawing out Sirak's defeat. Hesitating on the killing blow, Bane was stopped by Kas'im, who recognized that Sirak was not only beaten but humiliated.

Furious and desperate for vengence, Sirak plotted ways of killing Bane. His opportunity presented itself when Githany, a deserter of the Jedi Order and Bane's other secret teacher alongside Kas'im, sought Sirak out to kill Bane. Along with his Zabrak kin Llokay and Yevra, he, waited in the library while Githany lured Bane to them. However, Githany had also betrayed the Zabrak trio, furnishing Bane with his lightsaber to defend himself. The former Jedi killed the twin Zabrak with her light-whip, and Bane decapitated Sirak after he begged for mercy.

The Korriban Academy
Hailing from the Zabrak homeworld of Iridonia, Sirak was a Sith Apprentice on Korriban during the final years of the New Sith Wars. He was rumored amonst some of the apprentices that Sirak had begun training under the Korriban Academy's Headmaster, Qordis, some twenty years before.

During his time at the Academy, Sirak rose through the throng of students to become the top apprentice there. He won the admiration of two fellow Zabraks within the Academy, the twins Yevra and Llokay, though he was by far their superior in skill. The two apprentices followed Sirak constantly, giving the appearence of obedient servants following their master. Compared to the other students, his power was so great that several apprentices believed Sirak was the Sith'ari, and embodiment of the dark side itself.

Sirak was also reknowned in the academy for utilizing the double-bladed training saber. Although there were other apprentices who used this style of saber, the student Bane noted it was only Sirak that wielded the weapon with any kind of skill, apart from the Twi'lek Blademaster of the Academy, Kas'im.

Rivaly with Bane
"In time you will seek to challange me. It is inevitable."

- Sirak intimidates his rival apprentice, Bane

After Bane killed the Makurth apprentice Fohargh during a training duel, Sirak followed him until they were in a seperate corridor of the Academy, alone. The Zabrak found Bane intriguing, and felt he would be a powerful opponent&mdash;one who would eventually challenge himself for the position of top student. Sirak attempted to intimidate the Human, telling him a confrontation between them would be inevitable, and when Bane felt he was ready, he knew Bane would eventually challenge him in the duelling ring.

Bane knew the challenge was to goad him into a duel before he was ready. But in killing Fohargh, he realized he had also killed his father so many years ago using the dark side. Over the course of the next month, Bane began to lose his control of the Force, unable to access his anger. When the Masters began to spurn Bane's approaches for private tutelage after orders from Qordis, headmaster of the Academy, Bane knew his prestige was weakened and had to take measures to re-claim it. Bane rashly challenged Sirak in an attempt to prove himself.

Sirak had watched the slow decline in his opponent's skills as the weeks had passed. When Bane had killed Fohargh, Sirak felt Bane would rise to be a challenge, but now he did not consider him a threat to his position. Sirak wielded his double-bladed training saber with flourishes, before moving in to strike. Bane defended himself, but Sirak continued his attacks, incorporating moves from lightsaber combat Forms V and Form VII in alternating powerful and quick attacks, before demonstrating his true skills, blending several forms at once and overwhelming the weakened Bane. His opponent crippled and defeated, Sirak felt him beneath his notice once more.

Shortly after the removal of his latest challenger, Sirak found a new rival to his position&mdash;the Jedi deserter, Githany. She had recently joined the Brotherhood, providing Lord Kaan with information on the Jedi positions which resulted in a Sith a victory at the Fourth Battle of Ruusan. Sirak had witnessed her observing him as he did her, both analyzing each other and preparing, knowing they would battle for the posision of the Academy's foremost apprentice.

Several weeks later, Bane sought to challenge Sirak again. Sirak was cautious, knowing Bane would not challenge him again unless he had some strategy for victory. Indeed, Bane had in fact been training in secret with both Kas'im, the Academy's Blademaster, and Githany, learning lightsaber combat and how to use the Force from them respectively. Bane had spent much time in his secret training learning the techniques of the double-bladed saber both Sirak and Kas'im wielded, seeking to understand it and so nullify it's advantage of being unfamiliar to most students. Bane was cunning in his attack, seeking to truly destroy his enemy entirely. He added false flaws in his technique, luring Sirak into a sense of security, but Sirak was never able to land a blow on the human. As the battle wore on, Sirak grew weary, unaccustomed as he was to prolonged duelling. Bane often held back from striking when Sirak left himself exposed, sensing his opponent's despiration and using it to fuel his passion for revenge. Sirak's attacks became less honed as he was gradually worn down, as Bane closed in on the total domination he sought. In the final stretch of the duel, Bane crippled Sirak with a lightning-fast strike that shattered his forearm, and another that split his lower leg in two. As he was poised for the coup dé grâce, Bane paused, allowing Kas'im to intercede on Sirak's behalf and thus saving his live.

Alliance with Githany
"Four against one, Bane. And you left your lightsaber back in your chambers. I like those odds."

- Sirak mocks the hopelessness of Bane's situation

After spending several days submerged in bacta, Sirak emerged, and began thinking about how he could take his revenge against Bane. Githany came to him, informing him that she helped train Bane to defeat him, and now, in turn, could aid Sirak to defeat Bane. The former Jedi believed Bane was weak after he failed to kill Sirak in the duelling ring, but she was also angry at him for leaving for the Valley of the Dark Lords without saying goodbye to her or telling her why he had chosen to go.

While Bane was in the Valley of the Dark Lords, Kaan contacted the Academy, calling all Sith to Ruusan for the final battle with the Army of Light&mdash;an army of Jedi lead by Lord Hoth gathered to counteract the Sith activity on Ruusan. All the apprentices were granted the title of Dark Lord of the Sith, declared equal in the Brotherhood, and granted their own lightsabers. Shortly after this announcement, Bane returned, pleasing Sirak, who had felt his desire for revenge may have gone unfulfilled. Though he knew Llokay and Yevra would aid him in his revenge, Sirak knew he would need Githany to defeat Bane - her strength in the Force made her a better ally than either of his kin. Githany persuaded Sirak to wait in the library, where she would lure Bane to him. All too aware of Bane's power, Sirak told Githany he would have Llokay and Yevra assist them. Though displeased, she agreed nonetheless.

Death
"Listen to me. I'll serve you, I'll do anything you command. You can use me. I can help you. Please, Bane&mdash;have mercy!" "Those who ask for mercy are too weak to deserve it."

- Sirak begs for his life

As promised, Githany lured Bane to the library archives. There, he discovered Sirak, Llokay and Yevra standing in waiting. Stalling for time, Bane appealed to Githany. When Sirak realized he was trying to turn her against him, he attacked. Githany, siding with Bane, tossed him his lightsaber&mdash;which she had taken from his room when they left. Bane ignited his lightsaber via the Force, and summoned it to his hand in defense against Sirak's attack. A violent duel took place within the library, in which Yevra and Llokay were killed by Githany and Sirak was left facing the two humans alone. Begging for mercy, Sirak's pleas fell on deaf ears as he was decapitated by his nemesis, Bane.

Personality & traits
Sirak had pale yellow skin and orange eyes. He was the most powerful of the three Zabrak studying at the Academy during the end of the New Sith Wars. The other Zabrak, the twins Yevra and Llokay, held Sirak in the highest regard and were regularly seen at his side. By contract, Sirak treated them like assistants, using them to carry belongings like his training saber or his cloak while he was dueling.

Sirak was excedingly arrogant&mdash;the preferential treatment he recieved from the Masters at the Academy due to his strength in the Force did nothing to mute his feelings of self-worth. He preferred to work alone, being suspicious of those that could rival his power but offered him assistance, such as Githany.

Powers & abilities
Sirak's most reknowned ability at the Korribn Academy was his proficiency at dueling. Using the largely unfamiliar double-bladed varient of the Sith training saber, he was considered of a standard almost equal to that of a Sith Lord by Kas'im. The Blademaster also considered his arrogance to be a hinderance to his urge to progress.

Sirak was able to shield himself with the Force to protect from Force-based attacks like telekinesis&mdash;an ability he was also able to utilize himself. He possessed the ability Force lightning which he attempted to use against Bane.

Behind the scenes
Sirak was created by Drew Karpyshyn for the Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, which is his sole canonical appearence to date. He serves the purpose of being the obstacle for Bane in his quest of become a Dark Lord of the Sith, crushing him totally in order for Bane to return, more powerful than before.

In the novel, Sirak is incorrectly described as being a practitioner of Vaapad, a lightsaber form based on Juyo, created millennia later by Jedi Master Mace Windu with the help of fellow Master Sora Bulq. Karpyshyn has acknowledged this error, and requested that readers consider Vaapad to read Juyo instead.

It is also stated in the novel that Qordis teaches Githany the technique of Force Lightning alongside the stongest students on Korriban. Although Sirak is not mentioned by name, he is repeatedly referred to as the strongest student and so would be logical to conclude he also had this ability and learned it at this time.

Appearances

 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction

Sirak

First Battle of Ruusan
In 1,002 BBY, the First Battle of Ruusan took place, being one of the final battles of the New Sith Wars, and the first engagement of the last campaign of the war. The battle commenced in orbit over the planet Ruusan, which the Republic was using as a base to launch raids on Sith-occupied Kashyyyk. When the much smaller fleet of Sith warships dropped out of hyperspace, the Republic was caught by surprise, and the enemy's attack began.

Kaan, Dark Lord of the Sith and de facto leader of the Brotherhood of Darkness, commanded the battle from his flagship, Nightfall, using the ancient art of Sith battle meditation. The initial sortie was devastating, delivering heavy casualties to the Republic's ranks. Tides turned, however, when a female Cerean Jedi Master who was supporting the Republic fleet, employed her own battle meditation; the Sith this time were confounded. When victory seemed to be in favor of the Republic, the Sith Lord Kopecz infiltrated the capital ship where the Master resided. He mercilessly killed her two padawns, and then the Master herself. The resulting loss of the Jedi's puissance wrenched any chance of victory from the Republic's grasp, and their remaining forces were then annihilated by the Sith fleet.

Background
Over the course of several years, the latest ressurection of the war between the Sith and the Galactic Republic had crossed the expanse of the galaxy. Towards the end of the war, the armies of Dark Lord Kaan's Brotherhood of Darkness had succeeded in taking the Republic stronghold of Kashyyyk. However, their forces continued to be smitten by hit-and-run attacks courtesy of Republic's forces. The source of these nuisances was discovered to be the Republic forces stationed on the planet Ruusan&mdash;a small world of no major significance save it's strategic position. In addition to it's offensive strikes, the Republic fleet was serving a defensive purpose; should Kaan manage to emerge victorious, the Sith then had a direct path to Coruscant, the very seat of the Galactic Republic. Thus, their efforts were focused on maintaining dominance of Ruusan, lest Kaan and his Brotherhood wrest it from them.

Sith bombardment
Considering the number of Republic vessels in Ruusan's orbit, Kaan decided to lead the counterstrike himself from his personal command ship, Nightfall. His plan was to rely on the element of surprise to smother the Republic and minimize their ability to retaliate, while implementing his dark side-empowered battle meditation to undermine their forces and increase the coordination of the Sith fleet. Foresaking a defensive strategy, Kaan was confident that an all-out offensive would crush the Republic, and their Jedi reinforcements.

The Sith armada dropped out of hyperspace, and met the Republic fleet over Ruusan. In the initial route, Nightfall destroyed the Republic battleship on picket duty, followed by a direct bombardment of the other two support ships, preventing them from offering any relief to the heavier and less-maneuverable Hammerhead-class capital ships that comprised the backbone of the Republic's defense. A conjunct attack by the Sith's Buzzard fighters crippled two of the Hammerheads themselves, effectively disabling their deflector shields. Three Sith Dreadnaughts followed up the attack on the two now-shieldless Hammerheads, while the corsair battleships used their superior maneuverability to accost the other two. The Republic was suffering swift and heavy casualties, and Kaan reveled in what seemed to be his eminent victory.

Solidified victory
However, the Sith's advantage disappeared as quickly as it had manifested itself in the Force presence of a Jedi Master commanding the Republic fleet, who intervened with her superior mastery of battle meditation. Immediately Kaan's forces fell into disarray. One of the corsairs, Fury, was destroyed by a sudden volley of coordinated weapons fire from the two Hammerheads it was attacking. Meanwhile the Sith Dreadnaughts were surprised by four full squadrons of Aurek fighters, launched from the cargo holds of the two Republic cruisers they were engaging. The remaining Sith battleship Rage, and the three flanking Dreadnaughts, were forced to withdraw and regroup as the Republic seized the initiative. Kaan had lost the element of surprise, and found himself faced with an enemy that outnumbered him, outgunned him, and was further bolstered by battle meditation prowess that outclassed his own. It was at this time that the Sith Lord Kopecz debuted in battle, also aware of Kaan's diminished battle-influence. He instead drew on the dark side of the Force himself, and fought his way through the Republic starfighter blockade to board their flagship in his personal interceptor. Killing the troops present in the hangar, Kopecz moved on foot through the ship with one goal in mind, that of finding and eliminating the source of the Republic's empowerment: the Jedi Master. Homing in on her through the Force, Kopecz encountered and defeated an elite security squad of soldiers, and next made short work of two Selkath Padawans; he throttled the first with the Force and dispatched the other with a healthy barrage of Force lightning. The two Selkath had been guarding the entrance of their Master's chamber. Kopecz entered unbidden, and found her&mdash;an elderly female Cerean&mdash;who made no appeal in her own defense nor attempt to flee. He silently acknowledged her resolve as he cut her down, satisfied with having snuffed out the Republic's boost of morale. The tide of melee turned yet again, with the balance tipping in favor of the Brotherhood of Darkness completely. Kaan's forces pressed the offensive once more, and all the defending Republic ships were subsequently decimated, along with all the Republic troops aboard them. The first battle in the Ruusan campaign ended in hard-earned triumph for Kaan, and his dark Brotherhood.

Aftermath
Despite being routed by the Republic, the Sith succeeded in eliminating all of the orbiting fleet. However, the presence of the Sith battleships, as well as Ruusan's strategic importance, made it a prime target for a Republic counterattack. After the battle, the wreckage of ships would both litter the space in orbit and began to fall through the atmosphere, colliding with the surface of Ruusan&mdash;scenes that would be repeated during both the second and third battles of that same planet. Failure on Republic's part to re-take the planet resulted in Ruusan becoming the first location where the Army of Light would reveal themselves at the Third Battle of Ruusan, and the following ground battles would wreak devastation across the face of the planet.

Behind the scenes
The First Battle of Ruusan was written and conceived by author Drew Karpyshyn, for the first in his duology of novels, titled, "Darth Bane: Rule of Two". Karpyshyn used this battle to introduce readers for the last stretch of the New Sith Wars, the Ruusan Campaign. This battle lays the groundwork for what will eventually result in the devestation of the planet, the destruction of the current incarnation of the Sith Order, and the rise of Darth Bane.

Appearances

 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction

Kopecz
"Death is an old friend. What Kaan plans for all of us is worse!"

- Kopecz

Kopecz was a male Twi'lek Dark Lord of the Sith who lived during the final decades of the New Sith Wars. A former Jedi, Kopecz turned his back on the Jedi Order for the Sith, becoming on one of the first members of Kaan's Brotherhood of Darkness. He spent much of his time in the Brotherhood on the front of their campaigns against the Galactic Republic, including the final battles both orbiting and on Ruusan.

A powerful Sith Lord, Kopecz was often the voice of malcontent against Kaan, stirring the other Sith against him on issues such as the prolonged battle for control of Ruusan. However, Kaan was always able to sway Kopecz into siding with him, as he did when outlining the plan to use the thought bomb at the Seventh Battle of Ruusan. Kopecz, however, saw the madness of Kaan in using such a device when the Brotherhood were gathered to use it in a network of caves. Sneaking out of the gathering, Kopecz joined the defenders at the mouths of the caves, and was mortally injured when the Army of Light attacked. He was discovered by Valenthyne Farfalla, a Jedi Master who recognised him as a former Jedi. Refusing aid and the promise of redemption, Kopecz convinced Farfalla to fight him in lightsaber combat in exchange for revealing Kaan's plan. Knowing the Twi'lek had only a short time to live given his injuries, Farfalla agreed. After Kopecz descibed the thought bomb to Farfalla, the pair duelled, and the Sith Lord was swiftly killed by him former comrade.

Early Life
Formally a member of the Jedi Order, Kopecz rejected their philosophies for the ways of the of the Dark Side. With the Sith ascendant across the galaxy, Kopecz believed that they seemed to "offer the best chance to build a better universe." During his time as a Sith, he struck up a fierce rivalry with Qordis, a Human Dark Lord of the Sith.

The Brotherhood of Darkness
"I expect you to provide me with many strong - and loyal - Sith adepts to strengthen the Brotherhood." "Don't you mean us? Are we not all equals in the Brotherhood of Darkness?"

- Kopecz demonstrats suspition on Kaan's motives

When the Sith Lord Kaan formed the Brotherhood of Darkness, attempting to establish a system with numerous Dark Lords, he appealed to Kopecz to join him, as well as Qordis. By proclaiming all Sith Lords as equal in the Brotherhood, Kaan was able to maintain a truce between the two. Together, the three Sith planned the Battle of Korriban - after the Brotherhood re-took the ancient Sith homeworld, Qordis remained to become headmaster of the Sith Academy the Brotherhood established there. Kopecz, however, remained with Kaan to continue the war on the Galactic Republic.

Kopecz was the ranking Sith Master at several battles during the New Sith Wars - though the Brotherhood promised equality as Sith Lords, in practice there were always Masters who took up the roles of leadership, conveying orders between Kaan and the other Dark Lords. He was the commander during the Battle of Phaseera, where he had control of all military units on the world, including the Gloom Walkers.

When the sergeant officer of the Gloom Walkers, Dessel, knocked his commandering oficer, [Ulabore]], unconcious and assumed command of the squad, Kopecz was to be in charge of his court martial. Dessel had committed mutiny with the intention of saving his squad from a suicide mission that XYZ had accepted - under Dessel's command, the Gloom Walkers went on to successfully complete the mission with minimal casualties. Sensing the power of the Force within Dessel and reviewing him record that was littered with seemingly amazing feats, Kopecz had him taken to Korriban, when he revealed to the soldier he was to be trained as a Sith apprentice with the capability of becoming a Sith Lord. Dessel assumed the name Bane - the apprentice that would one day become Darth Bane and return to destroy the Brotherhood of Darkness and re-establish the Order of the Sith Lords under his Rule of Two.

The Ruusan Campaign
Kopecz was one of the Dark Lords present at the First Battle of Ruusan, when the Brotherhood launched a surprise counter attack against the Republic forces that had been performing hit-and-run strikes on the Sith-occupied world of Kashyyyk. During the battle, he flew a Sith Buzzard and was aided by the battle meditation that Kaan provided from aboard the Sith Destroyer Nightfall. While enguaging enemy fighters, Kopecz sensed the Republic pilots being aided through the Force. Realizing that there must be a Jedi Master using battle meditation somewhere aboard one of the capital ships, the Twi'lek detected the source and flew into the hanger bay. Infiltrating the ship, the Sith Lord slayed all in his path, reaching a chamber where he discovered a female Cerean Jedi Master deep in meditation, guarded by her two Padawans. Killing the young Jedi and their Master restored the Sith advantage and the tide of battle turned, resulting in the irradication of the Republic forces.

As the war began to turn against the Sith, Kopecz became involved in the internal feuds of the dark side. He feared the power of Darth Bane, and supported an assassination attempt on the Dark Lord.

However, Bane survived, and returned. Bane's rival, Lord Kaan, was tricked by Bane into using a thought bomb to wipe out the Jedi on Ruusan.

Though initially confident of Kaan's plan to use the though bomb, as the Kopecz

Aware at this point of the impending defeat of Brotherhood of Darkness, and fearing the fate awaiting those to be trapped in the thought bomb, Kopecz exacted a promise of death from Lord Valenthyne Farfalla, before revealing Lord Kaan's plot to the Jedi. After he told Farfalla of the thought bomb, the two entered into a duel which Kopecz soon lost.

Powers and abilities
Kopecz was known amongst both the Jedi and Sith as being strong in the Force. Coupled with this strenght, his willfulness meant Kopecz was difficult to manipulate with the Force.

He was an able pilot, flying a Buzzard fighter during the First Battle of Ruusan, and a proficeint fighter, enguaging in several other battles both on and above Ruusan.

Personality and traits
Kopecz was tall and muscular - the soldier Dessel believed him to be the "biggest Twi'lek he had ever seen". He was deeply mistrusting of the other more powerful Sith Lords amongst the Brotherhood of Darkness - Although he agreed to join the Brotherhood, he was always suspicious of it's founder, Kaan. Kopecz recognised that Kaan sought to control the Sith believing himself to be their leader, and regulary reiterated Kaan's own promises of equality within the Brotherhood back to him. The Twi'lek also shared a mutual animosity with Qordis - both had been rivals before joining the Brotherhood, and this would become evident when Qordis told other Sith Masters at the Academy to cease the preferencial treatment of the apprentice Kopecz sent him, Bane.

Having been initially swayed by the word and manipulations of Kaan, Kopecz became a voice of dissidence as the war on Ruusan progressed, irritated by Kaans repeating assureances that victory was close at hand, only to endure more skirmishes and battles with the Army of Light.

Kopecz was a powerful and respected warrior, and placed much on the value of honor. He chose to fight the Jedi face to face rather than being a part of the thought bomb Kaan intended to wield against the Sith, and chose to die fighting rather than slowly passing away from the injuries he sustaianed during the final battle.

Behind the scenes
A common name given to Twi'lek males, this name meant "philosopher". "Galactic Campaign Guide"

A kopek is a unit of currency in several Eastern European countries, including Russia.

Appearances

 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
 * Jedi vs. Sith