Kas'im

"Someone well trained in lightsaber combat can defeat an opponent who is stronger in the Force."

- Kas'im's view on lightsaber dueling

Kas'im was a male, Twi'lek, Dark Lord of the Sith, who lived during the New Sith Wars. Bought from slavery by the Sith Lord Na'daz, Kas'im became his chosen apprentice before he could walk, and spent the following years training in the Sith arts. His Master taught him in the ways of all seven forms of lightsaber combat, and eventually, Kas'im killed his Master in a duel.

At the behest of another Dark Lord named Kaan, Kas'im joined the Brotherhood of Darkness, outlining a plan for victory against the Jedi Order. He agreed, and for much of the war, Kas'im served as the Sith Blademaster on Korriban, teaching the Brotherhood's students the art of lightsaber combat. When the Human apprentice Bane lost in a practice duel to Sirak, a powerful Zabrak apprentice, Bane appealed to the Blademaster to train him privately in combat so that one day he could best Sirak, and take his revenge. However, the Headmaster of the Academy, Qordis, had ordered the other Masters at the school to cease Bane's preferential treatment when he himself had begun to fear Bane because of Bane's killing of the student Fohargh in an earlier duel. Knowing that Bane had considerable potential in the dark side, Kas'im chose to defy the orders of Qordis and taught Bane in secret.

However, Bane eventually left the Academy and the Brotherhood after a conflict with Qordis. Kas'im travelled to Ruusan with many of his students, after a summoning from the Leader of the Brotherhood. Kaan had called them all to participate in the Seventh Battle of Ruusan, against the forces of the Jedi Order and their Army of Light, led by the Jedi Master and Lord: Hoth. The guerrilla tactics Hoth employed irritated the Brotherhood's forces&mdash;Kas'im particularly. No longer believing the Blademaster could control his bloodlust so close to battle, Kaan sent Kas'im to try and sway Bane back to the Brotherhood, or kill him. The Blademaster then travelled to Lehon under Kaan's instruction, where he found Bane, who had assumed the antiquated "Darth" title. After an intense confrontation where Bane blatantly refused to rejoin the Brotherhood, the Master and student fought a vicious duel, in which Kas'im was subsequently killed.

Early Life
"As a young child I would watch for hours as my Master performed his drills. My earliest memories are of dancing ruby lights moving through the sequences of battle."

- Kas'im on his childhood

Kas'im was born into slavery on Nal Hutta. At a very young age he was separated from his parents when he was purchased from the auction blocks by another Twi'lek named Na'daz. Na'daz was a Sith Lord, and had felt the presence of the Force within Kas'im, even though the child could barely walk. Master Na'daz took him to Ryloth, where the Twi'lek child became his apprentice, and began his Sith training. Kas'im never saw his parents again, and held no memories of them in his later life.

Na'daz was a highly skilled lightsaber duelist, a trait he imbued in Kas'im, teaching him to wield the Double-bladed lightsaber. Eventually, Kas'im became stronger in the dark side than his Master, and also more skilled in lightsaber combat. When he had learned all he could from Na'daz, Kas'im engaged him in a duel, killing him and taking his curved-hilt lightsaber as a prize.

The Brotherhood of Darkness
"Kaan wants us to focus all our resources on our true enemy instead of one another. That is why we are all equals in the Brotherhood of Darkness."

- Kas'im explains the nature of the Brotherhood

When Lord Kaan founded his Brotherhood of Darkness, he appealed to the surviving Dark Lords to join him, including Kas'im. The Twi'lek embraced Kaan's vision for the Sith, believing his promise of equality as Dark Lords would quell the in-fighting that had repeatedly dwindled numbers of their order though the course of history. Kas'im's training under Na'daz had made him a firm believer in strength of arms, and he felt that with the Brotherhood's new approach they would crush the Jedi through superior numbers. He then joined the many Sith that followed Kaan's leadership. Because of Kas'im's unmatched dueling skill, Kaan appointed him Blademaster in the Sith Academy on Korriban, the training centre for all the apprentices deemed strong enough in the Force to become Dark Lords.

The Twi'lek set about training every apprentice with the lightsaber, instructing them in sequences from all seven forms of lightsaber combat. The students were each given training sabers to practice their lightsaber techniques. The blades were covered in millions of barbs made from the spines of the Pelko bug, a deadly venomous insect native to Korriban. Each of these barbs could cut through cloth and secreted the pelko venom when they struck an opponent, resulting in burns, blistering and paralysis for the victim. When struck, a student would feel extreme pain and the limb affected by the poison would be useless, simluating the loss of that limb from a lightsaber strike. These practice blades allowed the apprentices to challenge each other in non-fatal combat, while Kas'im would observe the duelists. When one apprentice was defeated, Kas'im would point out places for improvement for both victor and vanquished, and inform the observing students of noteworthy points to learn from the duel. Ever cautious of the way he had defeated his own Master, Kas'im trained all the students in the use of normal lightsabers, save Sirak, who used a double-bladed variant of the training saber. Sirak was the Academy's strongest student. He was rumoured to have been Qordis' apprentice for nearly twenty years, long before the Brotherhood began, although this was never proved, and why he utilzed a double-bladed saber while all others did not was as much of a mystery to the students. Nontheless, Kas'im continued to train Sirak in the double-bladed saber. The Blademaster was satisfied he could defeat any of the students by switching to a style they would have been unfamiliar to, such as Jar'kai, should his trainees turn on him at any point in the future.

When the apprentice Bane arrived at the academy, Kas'im immediately recognized his strength in the Force. Kopecz, the Dark Lord who had first sensed Bane's potential, told the Blademaster to watch Bane closely, and offer him any assistance he required. Although Kas'im realized this was because Kopecz knew any progress Bane made would reflect well on him as Bane's discoverer, he watched Bane with interest as he quickly improved his skill, before witnessing him challenge the Makurth apprentice, Fohargh. Bane was constantly on the defensive from Fohargh's Makashi strikes, while he employed Dun Möch to humiliate Bane further. Bane became enraged, thrusting out with the Force, repelling his opponent mid-leap, and proceeded to throttle the Makurth with the Force, until he died. Kas'im, fascinated with Bane's performance, made note of how he overcame his enemy.

Feeling that Bane had reached a new height for his powers, Kas'im was disappointed when Bane began to regress, seemingly terrified of the power he had unleashed. He consulted Qordis, who told him to abandon Bane's tutelage for more worthy students. Kas'im knew it was really Qordis' disregard for Kopecz that prompted his decision, but the Blademaster thought that Bane, although powerful in the Force, was now refusing to embrace the dark side, therefore making him useless to the Brotherhood. Bane, sensing this lack of favor, challenged Sirak in a bid to regain his standing. The Zabrak used a swift offensive, alternating the form he used or blending several lightsaber styles at once, toying with his outmatched opponent before breaking several of Bane's bones, hurling him across the dueling ring with the Force, and knocking him unconscious. Bane's rapid and abrupt defeat only confirmed Qordis' views to Kas'im.

When he recovered from the numerous injuries Sirak had inflicted, Bane sought out the Blademaster, and pleaded for Kas'im to resume his training. The Twi'lek was highly skeptical of Bane's intensions, knowing that Qordis would not allow the failed apprentice into favor again. Bane appealed to his pride, saying that Kaan would know it was Kas'im, not the other Masters, who would receive credit for Bane's abilities since the other Masters had abandoned him as a lost cause. He expressed his unwavering desire for revenge against Sirak, and eventually, Kas'im agreed. The Blademaster trained Bane in secret, dueling each other, practicing new forms, techniques and sequences. Bane learned every move of the double-bladed saber, focusing on memorizing every parry and thrust. Eventually, Bane challenged Sirak, in which he outclassed the Zabrak, humiliating him. However, Kas'im called Bane to stop before he delivered the killing blow, knowing the Brotherhood would need a fighter as skilled as Sirak in the war. As a testament to Bane's skill and a gesture of his pride in the apprentice, Kas'im later bestowed Na'daz's lightsaber upon the apprentice.

When Qordis manipulated Bane into leaving the Academy, Kas'im was infuriated. The Headmaster told Kas'im that Bane had gone to Korriban's Valley of the Dark Lords to seek answers of the ancient Sith. Despite Qordis' dismissal of the apprentice, Kas'im was sure Bane would survive. While Kas'im's student was in the wilderness of Korriban, Kaan contacted Qordis, telling him to bring all apprentices to Ruusan. There they were to participate in what he hoped would be the final battle, overwhelming the last remnants of the Jedi Order's Army of Light. Led by Jedi Lord Hoth, the Army of Light had been established by the Jedi Order in respose to the growing threat of the Kaan's Sith Brotherhood. When Bane returned, he was lured into the library by Githany and attacked by Sirak. Though bent on revenge, the Zabrak was no match for Bane, who killed him. He then accused Qordis of sending Sirak as an assassin before publicly rebuking the Dark Lord. Bane left the Academy and the Brotherhood, despite Kas'im's attempt to convince him to meet with Kaan and see what the Blademaster believed was the truth of the Sith leader's words.

All the apprentices were then deemed Dark Lords in the Brotherhood of Darkness, and, despite Bane's departure, Kas'im travelled with them to Ruusan. He quickly became infuriated by the 'hit and run' tactics the Jedi commander Lord Hoth had adopted, hiding in the forests of the planet. His warrior nature and hunter's instincts, that had been controllable while so far from the war, began to take over Kas'im's senses, and training and sparring with the other Sith did little to curb his aggression. Kaan began to feel that Kas'im's nature made him unpredictable, and could inspire others to act on their discontent, resulting in an insurgence against him. Githany, Bane's former secret teacher alongside Kas'im, had a premonition through the force that Bane would return and eradicate the Brotherhood. When she informed Kaan of this, the Brotherhood's leader decided to clear two of his problems by sending the Blademaster to Lehon, charged with convincing Bane to return or removing him as a threat to the Brotherhood.

The Final Duel
"You're better than you were when we last fought." "So are you."

- Kas'im complements Bane's skills during their final duel

Kas'im flew to Lehon in a Sith Buzzard, and found the Rakatan Temple where Bane had discovered the holocron of Darth Revan. The Blademaster requested Bane to join Kaan in defeating the Jedi. However, by this point Bane held no respect for Kaan or the Brotherhood, believing his Rule of Two&mdash;a new philosophy stating that there should only ever be two Sith, one Master and one apprentice&mdash;would restore the Sith to glory through secrecy, cunning, and betrayal.

Kas'im engaged his former student in a duel, hoping to beat him with a fast strike. Bane, however, defended himself and counter-attacked, forcing his teacher back into the temple and into a dead end. When Bane paused to savor his victory, Kas'im disconnected his double-bladed lightsaber into two single sabers, and utilized Jar'Kai against his unsuspecting opponent. Unable to defend the unfamiliar style, Bane was forced back to the temple entrance. At that moment, Bane thrust out with a huge shockwave of dark side energy to obliterate Kas'im, but the Blademaster shielded himself with the Force. However, the power Bane unleashed covered so great an area that it shook the entire temple and smashed the archway surrounding Kas'im, who was crushed beneath the stone.

Legacy
"I had learned all I could from Master Na'daz. As strong as he was in the dark side, I was stronger. As skilled as he was with the lightsaber, I became better.” ”But why kill him?” ”A test. To see if I was as strong as I believed."

- Kas'im teaches Bane about the traditions of the old Sith.

Kas'im had trained Bane, the apprentice who would proclaim himself Darth Bane and eradicate the Brotherhood of Darkness and re-model the Sith under the Rule of Two. Kas'im's most poignant legacy was this apprentice, whom he had taught to be a formidable duelist. Kas'im also left a lasting impression on Bane when he revealed he killed his own Master once he could learn no more from him. Bane embraced this for his New Order, feeling it represented the transition of power from a strong being to an even superior one.

Personality and traits
"Try? You've lost your will to fight. This lesson is over. Return when you are ready to embrace the dark side instead of pulling away from it."

- Kas'im criticizes the failing apprentice, Bane.

Kas'im had spent his life training as a duelist and warrior. As such, he possessed hunter's instincts. He greatly anticipated battle, becoming eager at the prospect of joining the war on Ruusan, and growing agitated when on the enemy would not stand and fight, as Kaan saw when Hoth employed guerrilla tactics. His willingness to fight was felt by Kaan to be unquenchable unless facing real opponents&mdash;sparring with others did little to slake his bloodlust, such was his desire to feel real challenges to his skill.

Despite these instincts, Kas'im was highly disciplined and knew his place in the Brotherhood, being satisfied to train new apprentices for most of the New Sith Wars. He believed in Kaan and his Brotherhood of Darkness, feeling its strength of arms would defeat the Jedi Order. He was convinced in the hierarchal structure of the Brotherhood, saying it "avoided complications" if the other masters on Korriban deferred to Qordis, who in turn responded to Kaan.

Kas'im had a certain streak of pride; the apprentice Bane would appeal to this when seeking to be trained privately. He had no time for the weak or broken, a trait highlighted by his Sith and warrior nature. He was cunning and wary in his tutelage of lightsaber combat; he trained most students to wield single blades, and occasionally double blades like the one he usually utilized, but always kept various techniques known only to himself, such as his mastery of Jar'Kai.

Powers and abilities
"So the double-bladed weapon gives you more options?" "No, but you think it does, so the effect is the same."

- Kas'im explains to Bane the advantage of the Double-bladed lightsaber.

Kas'im's greatest skill was his unparalleled swordsmanship. It is this trait that earned him the position of Blademaster in the Korriban Academy. He preferred the double-bladed lightsaber not out of versatility, which he himself stated the weapon lacked, but because of the unfamiliar nature it possessed against an opponent as he once explained to Bane during his time as an apprentice on Korriban. In addition to these skills, Kas'im was a lethal practitioner of the dual-blade technique of Jar'Kai, a skill he kept secret and discouraged his students from delving into.

Kas'im's level of proficiency in lightsaber combat so high that he is often considered the greatest swordsman of his age, and possibly one of the greatest ever to have lived. His lightsaber itself was a unique construction like all lightsabers, but was able to be disconnected in the centre, changing a formally double-bladed lightsaber into a pair of single blades.

Kas'im could shield himself using the Force to protect from Force Powers, and was able to utilize telekinesis.

Behind the scenes
Kas'im was created by Drew Karpyshyn for the novel Darth Bane: Path of Destruction and was killed off by the leading protagonist. Kas'im served the purpose of secretly training Bane in lightsaber combat to make him an unparalleled duelist.

Karpyshyn introduces through Kas'im the concept that lightsaber combat is not merely restricted to forms and styles, contradicting many earlier works to establish a regimented array of dueling techniques.

Appearances

 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction

Kas'im Kas'im