Pureblood Headcanon

[Luvane Vipion]

The Pureblooded Sith
Primary author: Aodh
Contributors: Rik, Scott

Spoiler: The Physiology of Pureblooded Sith

In terms of superficial appearance, Sith Purebloods do not appear to be too distinct from a human with red skin. This skin can, in truth, be anywhere from a burgundy to an orange and holds a window to the Sith’s heritage. The darkest of these skin colours tends to indicate that the Sith has large traces of Kissai genetics in their blood, while the vibrant reds tend to indicate Massassi heritage. The lighter skin colours are a slightly more complex issue, with the lighter reds suggesting Zuguruk descent, and the outright oranges typically being a symbol of impurity; be it human or otherwise. Bonespurs are cartilaginous structures grown alongside the tendrils of the Sith during puberty, with their growth being triggered by sex-specific hormones. A Sith with very few or none of these structures is usually either impure or under the age of twenty. When compared to baseline humanity Pureblooded Sith tend to be both larger and heavier, as well as warm to the touch. Pureblooded Sith’s hair is a relic of the Jedi exiles who interbred with the race so many eons ago, and tend to alternate from bright red to pitch black. This hair is only present on their heads and as eyelashes.

Species	Average Adult Height	Average Adult Weight
Sith	Male; 200 cm Female; 173 cm	Male; 136 kg Female; 112 kg
Human	Male; 170 cm Female; 164 cm	Male; 87 kg Female; 72 kg

Life Stage	Infancy	Toddler	Child	Adolescence	Adulthood	Old Adulthood	Ancient
Age(s)	0-2	2-5	5-14	14-20	20-150	150-210	210-230

All truly Pureblooded individuals bear vicious, study claws on their digits that are in fact a direct extension of their distal phalanx, or the final bone in their fingers. Sith have thicker bones to support their denser muscles. This grants them greater strength and explains part of their increased weight over humanity. The bones of a pureblood are durable and a considerable task to break by means of blunt force. Sith have up to twice as many myofilaments packed into the same space as humans, creating denser and stronger myofibrils. These extra muscles require more food more often to maintain, meaning that a Sith Pureblood is much more expensive to feed than most other races would be, and that they tend to starve naturally in about 20 days. Being so dense for their size also means that Sith are susceptible to drowning in large bodies of water, even should they know how to swim.

Records show that the original Sith had black blood, but through the alchemic cross breeding, the color has been diluted. It isn’t quite the same bright red found in humans, but appears more like a dark maroon. Among the Sith, darker blood is considered to indicate a purer lineage. Human blood needs to stay in a pH range of 7.35-7.45, but Sith blood can dip down to as low as 7.2 without any serious harm. One microliter of blood contains around 10-12 million erythrocytes, which is nearly double what humans have due to the fact that their denser muscles require more oxygen to maintain. In that sample, there should also be around 6,000-30,000 leukocytes depending on the body’s state with the rest being made up of around 450,000-700,000 thrombocytes floating around in plasma. A Sith heart is heavier than a human’s, though the difference isn’t as drastic as the one with skeletal-muscles. Also, the heart is slightly larger, allowing for more blood to be pumped through it at any given time. And compared to the placement of a human’s heart, a Sith’s heart is more upright and centered.

The respiratory system is the same in both Sith and humans, with the function of drawing air into the lungs through the trachea and into the lungs to provide the body with oxygen. Both species diffuse molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli. The diaphragm is also present in both species expanding and contracting with each breath and separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities. The only difference is that humans have an uneven and asymmetrical pair of lungs, allowing for a cardiac arch in the superior lobe of the left lung. Sith, on the other hand, have an even number of lobes on both lungs, which are basically mirror images of each other. They lack the cardiac arch since the positioning of the heart differs from that of humans.

The eyes of pure Sith have a membrane at the back of the retina that very minorly improves night vision and reflects light back out in dark environments. The olfactory bulb is two to three times as large in Sith than it is in humans. This is mostly due to the fact that the olfactory sense is linked with the ability to detect and use pheromones, but also allows Sith to differentiate smells better. The hearing range for Sith is from 5Hz - 15kHz compared to humans at 20 Hz-20 kHz. Low frequency “purrs,” inaudible to humans, are emitted when Sith are very relaxed and content. These low frequency purrs tend to make those who cannot hear them unknowingly uncomfortable. Sith Purebloods also do not taste spice in the same way as humanity does, instead tasting the food without the burning sensation.

It should be noted that although Sith are true omnivores, they have a much harder time digesting starches. Simple sugar molecules are easily digested, but the more complex ones commonly found in starches are not as easily broken down. This is due to the fact that Sith lack the enzymes needed to break down the starch into simpler sugars. They are still able to consume some amounts of starch, just not in the abundant amounts as humans since they produce only very little of the needed enzymes. As such, too much of these carbohydrates will often ferment and causing an overgrowth in bacteria that lead to such symptoms as bloat, irritable bowel syndrome, and stomach ulcers.

The Sith have standard immune system that wards off against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—with the exception of one. Like humans, the Sith are also host to their own species specific ectoparasitic mites and both species are covered in these parasites. While humans have two different species of mites, the Sith only have one, but in both cases the mites are harmless. For human mites, they congregate around hair follicles, especially where sebum is produced. But since Sith lack body hair the Sith mites tend to congregate around the ridges of their body. Most of the time, the mites do nothing, except in more humid and damp conditions (especially like the predominant weather of Dromund Kaas). In these conditions the mites can multiply too quickly and the resulting massive die off leads to what’s known as ridge rash.

Sith have a complex exocrine system that uses a multitude of pheromones. Unlike endocrine glands, the exocrine system uses ducts in the dermis that secrete pheromones out onto the epithelial surface. And while humans do have some exocrine glands, none of them emit pheromones. Within the nasal cavity, Sith have a vomeronasal organ, which is a part of the olfactory sense, that takes in and transmits the chemical information from the pheromones to the olfactory nerve. As with other species with the vomeronasal organ, Sith use pheromones as a way of chemically communicating with each other. These chemicals are all but undetectable to other species, and Sith are only affected by the signals emitted by their own kind. These pheromones, like the hormones, have a range of functions from signifying mood, assessing the health status of an individual, forming social bonds, aiding in reproduction, and so forth. Some pheromones are completely out of conscious control, while others can be managed with time and age. And while pheromones are typically thought to elicit a physiological response, which is true with certain ones, Sith can also ignore and disregard the chemical messages sent by others. The most common example is how adult female Sith will release a particular pheromone during estrus and nearby Sith males will ignore it and go about their day.

When Sith copulate at the time of estrus, and consequently ovulation, the rate of a successful pregnancy is 87%. There are instances of successful fertilization when Sith copulate several days before estrus if enough of the sperm manages to hold out until the ovum is released. But for both human and Sith, after ovulation has passed, the rate of fertilization drops drastically.

After fertilization, the female must have access to adequate food and water. If there is a shortage of food or water during the first half, the body will often self-terminate the pregnancy to avoid competing for resources. Xenobiologists speculate that this developed within the Sith species since their original natural environment is usually very harsh. Therefore, rather than have the fetus siphon the mother’s resources, the mother’s body will either reabsorb the embryo or expel the fetus (depending on the progression of development) during times of dire stress. It is not only physical stress that can affect a pregnancy, but mental and emotional as well. If a pregnancy fails, the mother can retry when conditions improve. However, due to the modernization of the species onto the galactic stage and the advent of medical science, the chances for miscarriages among Sith are considered very rare these days.

A human pregnancy lasts around 40 standard weeks and a Sith pregnancy lasts 35 weeks. Unlike humans who track their pregnancy into trimesters, Sith divide the gestation period into “quarters.” During the first two quarters of gestation is when the fetus is vulnerable of being terminated via absorption or expulsion if the mother is under any kind of dire stress. After the halfway point, however, the fetus is secured within the uterus and grows exponentially faster than the first half of gestation. And while Sith, much like humans, usually release one ovum per estrus, their rate of twinning is higher at around 8% rather than the 3% with humans.

Spoiler: The Sith Religion

The religion of the Sith Purebloods is ancient beyond compare and is deeply rooted in the intrigue and brutalism of Sith culture, both influencing and being influenced by it. In eons past any place touched by the Sith would be strewn with evidence of their worship; sacrifices, temples, shrines and the like. In the modern day, however, most Sith are only aware of Typhojem, the religion is rapidly dying out. Those Sith who belong to ancient Houses as well as individuals who study Kizia or Sith culture may be aware of, and worship the other deities, but these adherents grow rarer and rarer each generation.

Zyantha - The goddess of war is an imposing figure in Sith mythology, believed to be the firstborn daughter of Marserha and twin of Mekath. Zyantha is considered the finest strategist in all creation, fielding armies comprised of the greatest warriors of Sith history when challenged. Worship for Zyantha is traditionally done through sacrifice of enemies captured in battle, or even through the act of battle itself. More modernly, with changes to the Empire, worship is usually conducted over the weapons of a fallen foe or the offering of something of great value relating to the military. Priests of Zyantha are very rarely traditional priests, and instead tend to be Sith oriented towards commanding troops, and her temples tend to be established on these individuals flagships or in their bases as simple shrines. The Tuk’ata is often seen as sacred to Zyantha, the goddess herself often being depicted as a dark skinned Tuk’ata fighting another Tuk’ata, pale and with a steel tusk, this other specimen usually being interpreted as Hezarkal. Zyantha is often depicted as a rival of Hezarkal, an example that often extends to their disciples.

Mekhath - The god of battle is often seen as subordinate to his twin, but that is usually due to individuals conflating their portfolios incorrectly. While Zyantha is a strategist and thus responsible for long campaigns and entire wars, Mekhath is a tactician; he is patron of micro rather than macro, of pitched battles, formations and maneuvers. Mekhath is usually worshipped merely via the act of going into battle and spilling blood, and he has no traditional temples. Instead, each and every battlefield visited by the Sith is seen as a place of worship for him by those who still hold to the old ways. In line with this, most of his priests are transient warriors, seeking more and more bloody battles to engage in. Mekhath is often depicted as related to, or patron of, the Terentatek. Many stories distinguish him as a bitter rival of Vorket, despising the Glass Blade’s subversive and cowardly ways.

Hezarkal - Also known simply the duelist, Hezarkal is the god of monomachy, or single combat. He first appears in ancient Sith literature as a godly figure who challenged Zyantha. The goddess of war sent her armies against this upstart, whom they found sat upon a rock in the wastes of Korriban with a Sith Warblade set across his lap. The finest five warriors of Zyantha’s forces were sent out to bring her his head, and each lost his head in turn. Zyantha made a wager with this lone fool, that he would face each and every member of her vanguard in single combat one after another, should he succeed against all of them Zyantha would concede defeat, while if the duelist were to lose he would serve in her army for the rest of eternity. The ensuing battles took over twelve days and twelve nights, at the end of which the duelist stood alone in a field of gore up to his ankles. Ever since this, he and Zyantha have had a fierce rivalry. Worship of Hezarkal is usually carried out through the offering of the heads of those bested in single combat, and his temples tend to be relatively simple buildings with a duelling ring in the center. In turn, his priests are often more gladiator than clergy. He is typically represented by a pale skinned Tuk’ata with a single iron tusk as a symbol, often battling the dark Tuk’ata of Zyantha. The iron tusk is said to be the warblade of Hezarkal immortalised for eternity, the epitome of a blademaster’s weapon being an extension of their body.

Vorket - The Glass Blade is a name rarely spoken in anything but fearful whispers. As the god of assassination, Vorket is rarely paid homage to unless it is in prayers to avoid his gaze or as a request for the death of a rival. That said, if one fails to repay a bargain to Vorket the recompense is said to be dire indeed, ranging anywhere from maiming to being struck dead outright. When prayers are said to Vorket, they are usually sworn over a Shikkar or whispered as the life slips from a target. Vorket’s temples are extremely rare, and tend to be small fanes in hard to reach areas, guarded by intense traps. Their only usual occupants are the priests of Vorket, men and women trained from birth to shed blood and carry out contracts for their god, individuals without any name or identity. Vorket is a noted enemy of Mekhath.

Typhojem - The Left-Handed God is a figure who elicits both fervent devotion and abject terror even in the modern day, being the only god who is still widely worshipped by the Pureblooded race. As the god of Sorcerery and the force in general, Typhojem is seen as the foremost of the Sith pantheon, though there is no true leader. The various myths, origin stories and tall tales concerning the left handed god are too many to mention here, but his name is frequently evoked over Sith rituals or muttered before going into battle even by those that do not truly hold to the old ways. His worship takes many forms, but the classical example is the act of scoring a slice across ones left palm and allowing the blood to drip into a ritual flame. Typhojem’s temples are often deeply tied to kizia, quite often being sites designed for magic to be cast from or for the dark side to be meditated upon and channeled. Most extant priests of the Pureblooded race belong to the clergy of Typhojem, occupying ancient temples all over Sith Space, though even this largest denomination struggles in modern day sith society. Typhojem is most often depicted as a twisted and wizened figure looming over whatever vista he is portrayed near, or as a robed man with an unnatural face teeming with tentacles below two malevolent yellow eyes.

Urgak-Val - The god of tyranny exhibits perhaps the most complex interaction with the Pureblooded race of any of the gods. A Sith is naturally driven to break their chains and free themselves from all constraints, pitting them directly against Urgak-Val. In the same context, many Sith value tyranny as a tool for growing their own power and influence. This dichotomy is taken by his priesthood to represent the Pureblooded race made manifest, the lust to overthrow those over you while valuing the ability to exert influence over others below you. Urgak-Val’s temples were often large citadels or fortifications from which his priesthood would exert a dictatorial and brutal rule over all those in the temple’s shadow. Nowadays it is extremely rare to find an active temple of this god, and when one does they are always crumbling. Another reason for his declining influence is that his classical method of worship is expensive and often daunting; the sacrifice of a group of individuals that you have power over. These could be slaves, members of your powerbase, prisoners ect.

Hes’falda - The god of manipulation is a controversial issue in Sith society, all those who hold to the ancient ways pay him a degree of respect, but those who are seen as revering him above the other gods garner vast distrust from other sith because of his focus on deception and manipulation. Hes’falda has no publicly known temples- they were razed by those scorned by his followers long ago. Instead, his temples lie hidden deep in the jungle, or carved secretly into a rock face. Their entrances are swathed in glamours, making them even harder to find, and should one who does not worship Hes’falda find their way inside the temple they will often be made to see it as a shrine to another god.

Slythmnr - The god of wealth is considered the youngest of the Pureblooded Pantheon, an upstart ruler among the Sith who controlled large swathes of Korriban at one point and eventually ascended to such great influence that he was able to invite Typhojem to a feast and tourney he was hosting in his honour. While the left handed god attended this occasion Slythmnr’s troupe of assassins stole into the realm of the god of sorcery and bought their master back an unusual golden amulet. When one assassin asked what the amulet did, the king merely donned the amulet and disappeared into the air all of a sudden. Slythmnr’s empire fell apart in the space of a few weeks, returning back to its previous state of warring tribes and warlords. A few months after this an odd cult appeared dressed in robes of spun gold and possessing of treasures imaginable by no mortal, bearing the glory of their god. Slythmr’s temples are rarely on Korriban itself, largely being hosted instead on other Sith holy worlds that have more beautiful vistas. For the clergy, the days in which they were showered in tithes have faded and they now cling to the tattered remains of their past wealth. The standard way to worship Slythmr is by offering items of great value- monetary and not sentimental- to the god. These items are often stored in the reliquaries of his temples, leaving an enticing plunder target for pirates or the like.

Marserha Jochor - The mother. This goddess is the deity of life, birth and growth- both natural and growth in power. Her worshippers comprised of a large cluster of cults, some of which claimed she had birthed the Sith race, others that Typhojem was her firstborn son, and others that she is merely a goddess that views the Sith with a warmer outlook than her compatriots. This does not mean, of course, that she is not aligned with the dark side. Her turning away and refusing to shelter the Pureblooded race from the galaxy’s dangers is taken as an example by almost all Pureblooded parents, used as a tactic to hone and strengthen their own children. Marserha has no temples, instead being revered in the home via simple offerings of food and prayer, and the closest thing she had to priests were the traditional midwives of Korriban.

Deification - Elevation of powerful rulers to godhood has been a recurrent theme in Sith culture, be it the concept of King Adas as the Sith’ari, Ajunta Pall’s station of avatar of Typhojem or the descendants of Ludo Kressh engaging in ancestor worship. This is doubly true of Vitiate, who arguably boasted the power of a god on his own merit. Various cults cropped up to worship him across Sith space, most of them collapsing quickly. A few survived on Ziost and created an odd religious subculture of factions, some thinking of him as the left hand of Typhojem, some of him as Slythmr walking amongst mortals and others still worshipping him above all other gods as a separate entity. Regardless, this faith was largely although not entirely wiped out by the fall of Ziost.

Spoiler: Pureblooded Culture

Infanticide - In that harsh, brutal Sith society, only the strongest survive. Parents know this all too well. In order to keep families strong, relevant and pure, the weak are systematically rooted out, mainly through infanticide. When a child is born, the parents inspect it for any deformities, inborn weaknesses or deviations. If any of these are found, the infant is discarded. Sometimes it is outright killed, but more often the parents simply choose to leave it to it’s fate. The child is left in the wild- An unfortunate end that almost always leads to an untimely death. Tradition dictates that the Korribani leave them in the deserts or tombs, those of Ziost in the Tundra and the Kaasians in the jungles. Each sith world settled in the early days of the Sith has their own specific areas to leave the infants in, be it left floating on a raft on the seas of Upekzar or the wastes of Jaguada.

This method has ensured that the vast majority of Purebloods from ancient houses boast a strong physique. By rooting out the weak and deformed over the generations, the Purebloods have ensured that their offspring are strong and ready to face the harsh world created by their very own ancestors. It is worth mentioning that, in the rare case that an abandoned child does survive, they are almost always drafted into the Imperial Army. While looked down upon by the Force sensitive Purebloods, and forbidden from wearing any of the ritualistic jewellery, many of these non-sensitives manage to make a good career as they still have the drive to prove themselves.

Gender roles (Modern and classic) - In the ancient Sith Society on Korriban, gender roles were far more present than in the modern day Empire. Korriban was a harsh and dangerous world, and the survival of entire tribes or communities depended on the amount of newborn children. For this simple reason, the women were protected at all cost. Men did most of the fighting, while the women stayed home and concerned themselves with a wide variety of things; From housework to internal politics.

Due to this, the women played a dominant role in the governing of a tribe. They picked and chose their own husbands, sometimes having multiple as a result. The most common form of this however, was that one single powerful warlord had multiple wives, who had all chosen him for his strength. This was not necessarily for lust, but predominantly to secure strong genes for the next generation. Obviously, this was different for other castes. For example, in the Kissai caste there were few differences between man and woman to begin with, as both could fulfill the same role. That did not change the way partners were chosen however.

With the coming of the Dark Jedi, this drastically changed. The differences between man and woman started to fade. Nowadays, there are no real differences left. Both men and women can become Sith. It is the legacy of Sorzus Syn and Xoxaan, who took the title of Sith Lord, rather than Sith Lady. Perhaps this found its origin in the Jedi order, where there were no differences between men and women in titles to begin with. There are no Jedi Mistresses, only Masters.

Sith weaponry - In the ancient Sith society, war was a common occurrence. Warlords met each other on the field of battle all the time to resolve differences, or simply to conquer. As a member of the Massassi class, you were fighting on daily basis. In an age before the invention of the lightsaber, more brutal weapons were used.

Shikkar: The shikkar is an assassin’s blade made of a dark, obsidian like glass. It was often around as long as a forearm, and specifically designed to break off, should the wielder twist it after stabbing their unfortunate victim. The glassy blade would snap off and sink deep into the skin, where it started festering and corrupting the surrounding flesh via dark side corruption. These blades were crafted only by the extinct glassblowing guilds of the old Sith, and are thus no longer possible to create.

Parang: The parang is a large yet light curved blade that was originally used to cut through undergrowth. After Korriban became desolate, the blade lost its purpose, until it started being used as weapon. It was usually made of steel, but sometimes of glass. Its primary advantage over a normal sword was that it could be thrown and return like a boomerang.

Lanvarok: The lanvarok is a wrist-mounted disc launcher that fires salvos of sharp metal discs. Originally it was a hunting tool, but during the Great Hyperspace war, it was widely used as an effective weapon. Originally, many Sith used to force to guide their discs, giving it an almost homing-launcher like reputation.

Sith Sword: Sith swords are swords of war, crafted from Sith steel and enhanced with Sith Alchemy. This enhancement process was called ‘enchanting’ and made the blades stronger and sharper. It also aided in their preservation, although eventually the effect would wear off. This was the primary weapon of most Sith before the lightsaber.

Sith Jewellery - The adornments worn by the Sith Purebloods, known as pureblood jewellery, are a profound testament to the ancient heritage of this species. Crafted predominantly from gold and infused with the mystique of Alchemy, these piercings convey a comprehensive narrative about the wearer. Inscribed with the sacred Sith Kittât, these markings divulge information about one's familial lineage, position within the empire, and notable accomplishments, among other significant details. While gold remains the preferred material among the purebloods, silver, platinum, and even phrik have been known to be employed by those belonging to less conventional or lesser-known families within the empire. The jewellery typically encompasses earrings, nose-guards, and nose piercings, although it is not uncommon to find them adorning the neck, chin, lips or tendrils of the wearer.

For those who possess the ability to decipher the inscriptions, the privilege is bestowed upon them, as the small yet intricate text necessitates close proximity, indicating the trust bestowed by the pureblood. These piercings serve two distinct purposes. They can serve as personal reminders to the wearer or function as outward displays of prestige when encountered by others. The text may be inscribed in a mirrored fashion, enabling the bearer to read it when looking into a reflective surface. It is customary for purebloods who assimilate into a new family to have the house insignia etched into their jewellery, symbolizing their allegiance to the newly embraced house. The process of forging and creating these pieces demands meticulous craftsmanship, with artisans possessing not only skill in metallurgy but also passing understanding of basic alchemy. Although the jewellery does not bestow enchantments upon the wearer, it will carry with it a slight hint of the dark side forever more. The minor alchemical manipulation of the metal will cause the adornment to form an unbroken link within the flesh of the subject, entirely unable to be taken out without significant damage to the flesh or to the item itself, both of which carry with them immense stigma in the pureblooded community.

Consistent with the traditions of the Sith, this procedure is far from painless. Purebloods are expected to endure the agony, as it serves as a testament to their strength and unwavering loyalty to their respective houses. Specific criteria must be met before one can don the jewellery. A pureblood must reach adulthood and attain a certain level of status to be granted the honor of bearing the traditional Sith markings. Non-Force-sensitive purebloods are forbidden from wearing these marks due to the perceived contamination of the species. Amongst the noble families, it is customary to prepare their children for the inevitable pain, ensuring they exhibit no signs of weakness to their kin.


Sith vs High Sith - The languages of the Sith are varied and diverse, consisting of 23 phonemes. There were 17 consonants: t, d, k, q, m, n, ts, dz, s, z, h, ch, j, sh, r/l, w, y. There were also 6 distinct vowels: i (as in "hit" or "heat"), â (as in "bash"), u (as in "suit"), û (as in "club"), o (as in "toad"), a (as in "ah"). In addition, a and o would combine with i to make diphthongs: oi (as in "toy") and ai (as in "buy"). Sith morphemes—the smallest meaningful units in the grammar of a language—were often made of closed syllables (syllables ending with consonants), which made them sound brisk and choppy. The language was regularly stressed, with every word accented on the first syllable. The Sith language discouraged vowels in hiatus, and glides were inserted when two vowels appeared next to each other. The phrase siqsayanjat ("about a demon") was in fact composed of siqsa ("demon") and anjat (ablative noun marker), with the addition of the glide y to eliminate the hiatus.
The language of the Sith extensively employed regular agglutination and used derivative suffixes to a greater extent than Galactic Basic Standard. Many different markers could be added to a root until very long words were formed—and a single word could constitute an entire sentence. For example, the phrase "because of dreaming about a demon" translated in Sith as a single word kûskutsiqsayanjat. This word was made of four distinct morphemes: kûsk + ut + siqsa + (y)anjat = "to dream" + (nominal verb marker) + "demon" + (ablative noun marker). Some markers could be added only to nouns, and others only to verbs.

The typical declarative word order of Sith was verb / subject / object — for example, "Wonoksh Qyâsik nun" was literally "Shall free / the Force / me". However, there also existed prepositional phrases, and subjects or objects could sometimes be put at the front of the sentence for emphasis.

Verb roots were typically one syllable and ended with a consonant. Moods, tenses, and other subtleties were indicated by suffixation verb markers. For example, the addition of -atul expressed the alethic mood, the speaker's belief that an action was logically necessary or obviously true. (The phrase Châts nu midwan would be "I gain power", while its alethic form Châtsatul nu midwan could be translated as "I necessarily gain power.") Also, the addition of -oksh expressed future tense. (For instance, Won Qyâsik nun meant "The Force frees me," while Wonoksh Qyâsik nun meant "The Force shall free me.") The suffix -win was sometimes added to a transitive verb to indicate ergativity, meaning that the grammatical subject of that verb was in fact its semantic object, while the true semantic agent remained unexpressed. (In the phrase kotswinot itsu or "my chains break," the action described is in fact being done to the subject itsu by an undetermined agent.) Thanks to the suffix -ut, verbs could also be nominalized. (For example, kûsk was "to dream" while kûskut was "the act of dreaming.")

Sith nouns had cases, inflectional forms indicating their grammatical relation to other words in the sentence. Those cases were expressed by the addition of a noun marker. Know cases were the instrumental case (-jontû), the ablative case (-anjat), the dative case (-ottoi). Instrumental case indicated that the noun it marked was the means of the accomplishment of the action expressed by the clause; for instance, ashajontû meant "through victory." As regards the ablative case, it could be best translated in Basic using the preposition "about." The word siqsayanjat meant "about/concerning a demon." A noun was in the dative case when it was used as an indirect object: midwan was "power" while midwanottoi meant "for/to the power."

The Sith language has developed into three separate writing systems, each having their own different spoken dialect. The most common of these is Common Sith or Low Sith, a version of the language that is spoken in many aspects of life by most Purebloods, and even at times by some Imperial Humans. Alternatively there is the High Sith dialect, or Kittat; a version of the language that is almost exclusively used in religious contexts, kizia and ceremonial talks between especially highborn Pureblooded individuals. Thirdly is the dialect used only by the mutated Massassi sithspawn on Yavin, known only as “Massassi.” This is a simple form of language, essentially being a heavily simplified version of High Sith, spoken and understood by practically no one in the Empire nowadays.

Food -
Sweet ⭐️⭐️
Sour ⭐️⭐️⭐️         
Spicy* ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bitter ⭐️
Salty ⭐️⭐️
Umami (“savory”) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sith taste buds are not the same as a human’s. With humans, when certain compounds interact with receptors inside the mouth, the nerves are tricked into thinking the mouth is (literally) on fire. This neural “illusion” does not occur with the Sith. So they do not experience any of the burning sensation and enjoy the flavor of spices unhindered. Keep in mind, for Sith spices, they are more of the “cool color” hues rather than the “warm” ones we are used to. Instead, spices being associated with reds, oranges, and yellows; they are shades of greens, blues, and purples.

Sith cuisine commonly incorporates soups and stews because of their relative ease to cook paired with their high potential for nutrition and flavour. Sauces and condiments have also developed a degree of importance in Sith culture, typically being made out of meat products or certain vegetable/fruits. These sauces are almost always thick or chunky, and heavily spiced. Starches and breads are rare in Pureblooded culture, and were historically never found in their cuisine. Over time, however, a small array of fine noodles and flatbreads have been created, though the Pureblooded sith can only eat small amounts of them for worry of gastrointestinal distress. Dairy is also a dish that was not found in ancient culture, though some applications of milk have developed over the years, cheese is almost never eaten by Purebloods largely because of tradition and their powerful noses.

Meat is a hugely important component of the food culture of Korriban. They can be found, both cooked and raw, dried and cured, from countless animals across Sith Space. The bones, marrow and organs are commonly used in the stews available. Alternatively, most fruits are dried or candied before being eaten, and most vegetables that are not used in soups and stews are pickled.

Tea is integral on a base level to Pureblooded culture; it is used in family gatherings, ceremonies, meetings, religious rites and countless other contexts. Teas are also often heavily spiced, though milder varieties are also available. There are many different ceremonies used in the pouring, drinking and preparation of various teas in various contexts.
Blood soup is perhaps the most famous of all Sith foods, being comprised of anything from animal blood, to the blood of Grotthu, to other Pureblooded Sith. These dishes are, as per usual, heavily spiced and often also contain roasted vegetables and herbs.

Sith houses and families -
The concept of a Pureblooded house is as ancient as recorded history. King Adas’ court was flush with the various nobles of Korriban; commanding or serving in his armies, acting as court magicians and governing his empire for him. The existence of houses before that point is impossible to speculate on with any significant evidence. Some houses specialise in specific roles within society, like House Ronith and its traditional focus upon the burial rites of the sith, as well as various other rituals and ceremonies, though not all do. All Sith houses do, however, have their own traditions that tie into the wider norms of pureblooded culture.

Sith houses are led by either a patriarch or matriarch, with no discrimination between genders. Their children are often married off for pacts, to preserve the bloodline or even for dowries. The issue of heirship differs from house to house, but the standard method is that of selection via the current leader of the house, with seniority meaning little more than a head start in impressing their parents. Adoption is exceedingly rare. While some Purebloods refer to their peers from other houses as Monhura & Sissûo (brother & sister) out of respect for their pure blood, it is ultimately only their own blood that matters in internal politicking. The sole way an outside without blood can become a true member of a family is by marrying into it, thus dedicating themselves to add their blood to the future generations. Some, though not all, families chose a specific method of parenting where one of the parents is openly affectionate and the other distant until the child has reached a certain age, at which point the parent who was affectionate becomes cold and cruel, and the already distant parent takes it to a higher degree of extremity.

Some Sith houses operate on an almost latent version of feudalism, those that hold onto the ways of times gone by more so than most. As such, it is often found that Houses are vassalized to other houses, either as a modern action in order to mitigate the decrease in their society and race, or as ancient ties from a time when Korriban stood alone in the galaxy, ruled by tribal warlords and kings.

Siblings and cousins in Sith society occupy an odd space between extreme comradery for the sake of the house and intense rivalry, often having a complex system of priorities to accommodate this. Such a thing does, of course, vary house from house.

Pureblooded Supremacy -
The Pureblooded race is tied on a fundamental level to the philosophy of the Sith, their history having forged the race into an endless race towards the top of society or towards personal power at any cost. This has created not only an intensely competitive society, but also a deep hatred of out-groups, be that disdain towards non-sensitive Imperials, hatred for near-human aliens or outright dehumanization of other aliens.

These attitudes, along with high prevalence of slavery in the Empire, has created a system of intense racism, even by those considered moderate. This attitude is why the rule of the few has persisted for so long, those attitudes of supremacy are rooted in every level of Sith culture, even those who do not hold to the old ways often have unconscious bias towards the superiority of force sensitives and sometimes the pure.

Kaasian Culture -
The culture of Dromund Kaas’ ‘native’ purebloods is moderated highly by both their history and their co-inhabitants. The current capital world is inhabited mostly by Imperials, human civilians and the empire’s endless legions of bureaucrats. This, along with the Kaasian’s years of exile from the galaxy has honed them into a society with a higher focus on pragmatism, efficiency and perhaps even moderacy when it comes to tradition than the rest of the empire. Kaasian Sith are often perceived as intensely patriotic of the Empire, and make up the vast majority of the Pureblooded population, although various houses on Kaas still hold to the Korribani ways. The Sith religion was never especially strong on Kaas, it neither being one of the five holy worlds nor a hotbed of traditionalism. Most of those who hold to the ancient religion there are either outliers, or Korribani families that migrated generations ago. Those on Kaas often eat more vegetation than other planets, as well as snacking most prevalently on platters of dried meats and fruits.

Ziosti Culture -
Ziost has changed many times over its history, due in part to the sudden onset of the ice age, the high amounts of trade that traffic through the planet and its heavy amount of imported slaves. The most significant change, however, did not come from outside. Instead, the stagnation experienced by the Ziosti while the Sith Empire was in reclusion took the extant culture on the planet to an extreme. The natural hedonism and mysticism of the culture expanding to the next level. Millennia old traditions became more complicated and elaborate by sevenfold, court intrigue reached levels not seen since King Adas’ time and esoteric activities or knowledge became all the rage.

The old houses of Ziost became somewhat eccentric, and crueler to their countless slaves than ever before, sacrificing whole hordes in dark rituals or as entertainment at parties. On Ziost, the Sith religion had a stronghold, a place where despite outside influences, or perhaps because of them, the old ways survived, though slightly twisted. These odd twists differed from context to context, and could be anything from a ritual containing 21 extra steps that seemed to a powerful cult of Slythmr that pops up one day and is gone the very next, it's former members merely chuckling when questioned. These odd inconsistencies are nothing new to Ziost, and the planet has long revered Typhojem, Vorket and even Hes’falda over the more blunt deities, some historians even claiming this is the root of Typhojem’s supremacy in modern culture. These twists in the society and the religion have given the Ziosti a reputation of being eccentric, extra hedonistic and somewhat more unpredictable than their contemporaries. Many Purebloods who visited the planet before its fall found themselves disconcerted and unnerved by the culture there.

Tragically, Ziost was perhaps the greatest holdfast of those cults that worshipped Emperor Vitiate as a god. The cuisine of Ziost often focused on the environment around them, in the moderately cold summers they ate plainer foods, hearty and full of calories. In the springs they gorged themselves on sweet foods, a pastime not especially common amongst the Pureblood race. In autumn, they ate heavy stews and meat dishes while in winter they chose foods so hotly spiced that even a Korribani may pale at the taste.

Recommended Reading -
The Essay on Purity: https://www.horuset.com/showthread.php?tid=208

Sources -
http://fluffynexu.tumblr.com/works

http://www.mithriltabby.com/starwars/sith.xhtml

[Hazlem]

Pureblooded Diaspora: The Walker Tribes of Jaguada

Overview:
The Walkers are a divergent Sith culture, a product of the interbreeding of a small population of Kissai and Massassi who were stranded on Jaguada in the wake of the Great Hyperspace War with the human populations who were on the planet serving them. This has resulted in a highly collectivist culture of disparate tribes who live a pastoral lifestyle rich in cultural texture and spirituality in the deep deserts of the planet. Despite being generally separate from broader Imperial society, they have an abiding loyalty to the Empire and the Sith, regarding them as their progenitor culture.

Physiology:
The Walker Tribes are in almost every way identical to baseline sithblooded humans, albeit more accustomed to hot and arid conditions than most - living on one of the few truly hot planets in the Sith Core. They also trend slightly larger and heavier on average than baseline humans.

Spoiler: Religion:

The religion of the Sith Purebloods that was originally worshipped by the Walkers has changed significantly over the years since they were isolated by the exile of the Sith. This system of beliefs is a product in large part of the harsh reality of Jaguada, as well as their smaller populations requiring a greater amount of collective action and their society devolving to a tribal level. Ancestor worship has also become critically important amongst the tribes, often around half-remembered lineages dating back to the initial stranded populations.

The pantheon of the old Sith was altered and restructured over time to suit these purposes, and the general properties of their worship has changed in turn; sacrifices rarely involve people on Jaguada, more often being a small amount of water poured out, or a portion of the hunt left aside for a deity. In turn, the role of priest has been folded into that of Speaker, an individual with several roles within the tribe; chieftain, priest, diplomat, war-leader, historian. The Speaker, along with a single trainee under their mentorship are the only force sensitives permitted within a tribe, with overflow sent abroad to train below the Speakers of other tribes or left in the desert to fend for themselves if no opening can be found; though some tribes have begun instead sending their overflow to Korriban or Dromund Kaas to train as Sith.

The Desert Mother: The Mother is the primary deity of the Walkers, taking the role of lead god from the traditional position of Typhojem. She is regarded as the font of life and mother of the Sith species, as well as the one who brought water to the deserts of Jaguada via her tears, falling in the wake of the Great Hyperspace War. The Mother is often regarded as a firm but caring deity, brooking no weakness but elevating those who strive for more to new heights of power. She is seen as presiding over the species as their patron, as well as as the deity of fertility - and as modern technology begins to flow into the deserts, as goddess of agriculture. Her symbol is typically rendered as a pool of water, surrounded by vegetation. Prayers to the Mother occur on a regular basis both in a tribal and family context, often before meals and at key milestones in a life - births, birthdays, coming of age ceremonies and deaths.

The Spear Sister, Zintha: Zintha is the patron goddess of warriors in the Walker’s Pantheon, and the eldest daughter of The Mother. She is regarded as the protector of the tribe, and as the absolute pinnacle of the culture’s martial divinities - all of whom serve her. All members of the Walker Tribes are warriors to some degree, for all must hunt and be prepared to protect their tribe, and so Zintha is an active aspect of their lives from the time they can walk. She is worshipped before hunts, duels and battles, often alongside one of her underlings and typically via ritual combat, albeit rarely ending in death - the desert has enough cause for fatality without the tribe killing their own. Portrayals of Zintha typically display a Jaguadan Jackal with brown fur and long fangs, caked in blood. Zintha, Ketham and Zarkal maintain a conjunctive holy centre - an enormous, ancient starship wreckage deep in the deserts, within which the Walkers convene to decide matters of war and peace amongst themselves.

The Bow Brother, Ketham: One of the subordinate martial deities, Ketham is believed to be the husband and chief warrior of Zintha, an honourable but brutal figure who is worshipped as the deity of offensive warfare and of hunting. He is venerated before hunts and in the course of wars, as well as a totemic deity of the bows, disk-casters and rifles of the tribe, ensuring they do not fail or miss. His worship commonly includes marksmanship contests, and the delivery of trophies from hunts. Portrayals of Ketham typically display a Jaguadan Jackal with sandy-blonde fur, rangy and long-limbed.

The Blade Brother, Zarkal: Zarkal is the patron deity of the Speakers who lead the tribes, and is seen as the protector of tribal authority and structure, the being that underpins the iron-clad tribal values and hierarchies of the Walkers. As the son of Zintha and Ketham, he is also one of the subordinate martial deities of the culture, specifically of martial skill and of the glory won in battle. He is worshipped flexibly across relevant activities - he might be saluted before a spar or training session, offered the head of a foe after battle or venerated with the spilling of some of a warrior’s own blood - though never too much. Portrayals of Zarkal often display a curious sight - a muscular human man, clad in spiked armour and wielding a large straight-edged sword of metal, a weapon almost never seen amongst the tribes. Some historians have remarked on the similarity of the man’s armour to common Massassi physical patterns.

The Cold Night: Less a deity than a spirit of the desert, The Cold Night is regarded as the personification of the terrors of the dark. The envenomed bite, the chill of hypothermia, the dread of losing one's way in a night without stars to guide you home. They are believe to rest beneath the sands in the day, and to emerge to haunt the deep deserts when the sun sets, inflicting disease and murder upon those he comes across, repelled only by a fire constructed using materials blessed by a Speaker. It is believed that one can beseech The Night to bring death upon a foe by spending the night alone in the cold deserts, without fire or light, but to do is usually regarded as dangerous and dishonourable, as likely to bring death upon the petitioner or even their whole tribe as opposed to the intended target. The Night is never represented, and his true name - said to be revealed only to Speakers when they reach maturity in their training and never spoken outside of those contexts, is considered to bring his attention.

The Incense Bearer, Tyro’ga: A minor deity amongst the Walkers, Tyro’ga is commonly regarded as a supplemental demigod who imparts the power of the other gods to ceremonies and rites. They are very rarely worshipped with prominence by any but the Speaker and their trainee, except perhaps intoned alongside another god’s name to invite their attention. The reason for this is that outside of their supplemental role, Tyro’ga is also worshipped as a deity of magic - the guardian of both basic force abilities as well as the extremely devolved and basic remnants of sorcery and alchemy passed down along from Speaker to Speaker on the planet. Outside of this, Tyro’ga is also seen as patron of the Walker’s bustling incense trade, cut from the trunks of fragrant trees clustered on the banks of the salt lakes or ‘chott’ of the deep deserts. Most tribes will have a proprietary incense, from marginally different subspecies of trees often mixed with slightly different reagents to finish their effect. This incense is regarded as key to the process of magic and of deeper communion with the gods and with the ancestors. On the rare occasions Tyro’ga is portrayed, they are typically shown as a bald, gaunt and elderly figure, androgynous and with red-brown skin and glowing crimson eyes, their right arm ending in a bloody stump.

The Chain Bringer, Garvak: Another less often worshipped deity amongst the Walkers, Garvak is the god of dominion and conquest, a matter relatively rarely brought amongst the tribes. Inter-tribal warfare is rare, and when it does happen it will often be carried out in a series of high-speed raids capped by a ceremonial battle in Garvak’s name, followed by terms negotiated in his presence, invoked by the Speaker of the victorious tribe. Curiously, with the return of the Empire and continued contact with their lost kin, the Walkers have attributed Garvak to the Imperials, believing him the patron deity of their culture due to their sedentary lifestyle and the strict rigour of Imperial society. He is worshipped before meetings with Imperial authorities, in order to presage good results. Garvak is typically represented merely by a painted link of chain, rarely anthropomorphised.

The Soft Speaker, Falsir: Scholarly pursuits are not a matter of priority for most of the people of the Walkers, but the Speakers, tribal elders and certain brighter individuals such as healers within the tribes do have time for them, and the Walkers have never had cause to ignore basic plant and beast lore, as well as the study of navigation via the stars and the concoction of venoms. Falsir is the deity of these, as patron of knowledge and healing. He is also the deity of silver tongues and lies, the coercive arts, as the people of the tribes rarely see scholars as particularly trustworthy individuals. Something of a psychopomp amongst the pantheon, the Soft Speaker is believed to be the one who lifts the souls of the departed on mythic smoke, and returns them to the red mountains in the sky of their distant ancestors. When pictured, which is rare, Falsir is typically painted as a figure in deep indigo robes, face hidden by a formless cowl.

The Water-Prince, Themyr: Perhaps the third most important deity within the Walker’s pantheon below only his mother and elder sister, Themyr is the eldest son of the Mother, her favourite child and the one in whom she trusted her sacred waters. He is a deity of freshwater, of life and generosity and hope. Beloved unconditionally by the tribes, Themyr is regarded as the kindest deity of the pantheon, but also the most charismatic and valorous. Portrayed as a handsome man in the spring of his youth, tales of Themyr’s bravery and skill with his signature quarterstaff are told often amongst the oasis camps, and each oasis contains a shrine to him, through which the mother is often also worshipped. No sacrifices are made in Themyr’s name, as it is believed that he should be worshipped through a life of excellence and virtue, this being all he asks of his earthly kin. 

Spoiler: Culture:

The culture of the Walker tribes emphasises several things. Responsibility for oneself, one’s family, and one’s tribe. The strength to survive. Respect for the gods and for the spirits. Failing to embody any of these typically results in extremely harsh treatment - falling down the tribal hierarchy, being shunned and even the death sentence of exile from the tribe and their oases. The tribes have very low technology levels, and typically wield bows and spears, though certain warrior lineages maintain parangs - the curved machetes of ancient Korriban, albeit reduced in utility to that of typical machetes, no longer with a returning function once thrown. Most tribes do maintain very limited firearm supplies - decades old hunting rifles and outdated Imperial army pistols gained mostly when the Empire first made contact with Jaguada once more, battered and held together with twine, hope and grit.

The tribes speak a devolved form of Low Sith, only very slightly intelligible with the baseline language. Commonly known as Walker’s Cant, this language tends to remove some of the hard sounds and plosives of the natural Sith language and shares some grammatical similarities with Galactic Basic - as it is somewhat influenced by that language. The language does have its own script, a massively simplified and slightly ad hoc version of the Kittat script, less runic and more alphabetic to an extent.

Jaguadan food is typically somewhat simple - meat heavy, and often heavily spiced, it appeals fairly well to modern Purebloods. Roasted meats and raw organ meat served alongside desert root vegetables makes up a majority of the diet, supplemented by large amounts of dairy; milk, butter and cheese from the herds of the tribes. Alcohol is not common amongst the tribes, but they do drink an intoxicating, slightly hallucinogenic liquid drawn from the centre of large, hollow-trunked trees that grow nearby the largest oases.

The Walkers wear almost invariably long robes of coloured cloth, embroidered with elaborate patterns of multi-hued thread in patterns specific to tribes and roles within those tribes, and even smaller family units and deeds achieved by the Walker or their kin. Most wear head coverings of varying size, typically adorned with rows of dangling metallic and bone charms believed to protect the wearer. The Walkers often engage in simple tattoos, inscription marks upon their face and hands with significance to the wearer. It is said that a Walker can read another member of their tribe’s life story, as well as the life story of several generations of their family, from the garb they wear and the tattoos they bear. 

[Hazlem]

Pureblooded Diaspora: The Fortress-Gardens of Thule

Overview:
Thule is a fortress world of the Sith, one which has sat as a gemstone within the Sith crown for over three thousand years. It is a dark sided nexus, the closest thing to a sacred world the Sith have outside of the Stygian Caldera, and the holder of a lineage that even Dromund Kaas cannot boast of. Though it has often hidden itself from the galaxy outside of the various Sith orders, it has never deviated from absolute loyalty to the dark side.

Spoiler: History

Left without greater allegiance in the wake of Xim the Despot’s fall, the planet was first colonised by the Sith species before the arrival of the Exiles, as particularly far-flung explorers amongst the Pure made their way out of the Stygian Caldera and onto the world. Amongst Thule’s rocky terrain sprung Kissai temples, Zuguruk forges and great fortresses manned by the Massassi. As a world on the periphery of the Sith species’ domain Thule had reason to guard itself, and a militaristic atmosphere emerged early on - militaristic even by the standards of the Sith. Kissai houses organised into leagues of duelists and war-mages, Massassi organised themselves in more cohesive, regimented groups than might be seen in the hordes of Korriban or the household guards of Ziost and the Zuguruk formed lodges of siegesmiths or troops of mace-wielding sappers. Thule’s crown jewel was without doubt the Thule Stealth Regiment however, a troupe of elite special forces soldiers who proved some of the finest warriors the Sith was able to produce.

When the Exiles arrived within the Stygian Caldera, their influence united the Pureblooded race and began to expand its borders. This was a golden age for the people of Thule, who were well prepared for the rapid series of conquests rolling out from the Caldera and the halls of Thulian nobility teemed with trophies both gory and glittering. They contributed more than their fair share to the Great Hyperspace War that tore the galaxy nearly apart, aligning largely with Naga Sadow and producing a lion's share of heroes who inflicted nightmarish wounds upon the Republic. Yet, the Sith Empire lost - and was shattered. The Republic drove the Sith from Korriban and several other key worlds, entering the period of exile.

Thule survived the collapse of the Sith Empire however, managing to pass the Republic by as they surged past it into the Caldera. The world was one of the few beacons to which the survivors of the war could flee, and amongst them only the fleets led by The Emperor could rival it for the amount of refugees welcomed. The vast majority of these refugees were warriors returning from the war or defenders fleeing lost outposts on the borders of the Empire, swelling the planet’s military culture and reserves massively. Yet they chose to remain hidden, confident that the rest of their species persisted somewhere in the galaxy. They continued their military traditions, and when other, newer Sith cultures emerged to torment the galaxy they aided them from the shadows, standing alongside both Exar Kun and Darth Revan.

When the Sith Purebloods settled on the planet of Dromund Kaas they began to send out agents across the galaxy, and one of the first planets they visited was Thule. Though they found the planet much changed, transformed into one of extravagance and luxury albeit with a thriving martial culture, the people of Thule remembered their history and were the first planet to swear allegiance to the Hidden Empire. Their loyalty has not wavered over the years since, and they contribute comparatively massive amounts of men to the Imperial Officer Corps across branches, but especially within the Army and even more distinctly, to the special forces and the Imperial Guard. 

Spoiler: Physiology

Thule had been home to comparatively large amounts of humans and near humans even before the Purebloods arrived upon the planet, a legacy of Xim’s initial settlement of the world. Though these populations were second class citizens under the initial waves of Pureblooded settlement, the arrival of the Exiles at least elevated the humans to a form of equity, though it certainly did not improve the lives of the near-human populations on the planet. This reality saw the distinct Sithblooded sub-species seen on the rest of the Sith worlds appear independently on Thule during the exile period, albeit in a slightly different manner. The world’s sizeable Pureblooded population, undisturbed by exile or genocide, largely melded into the human population of the planet. Thus the rate of Sithblooded humans with red marks is higher than say, Dromund Kaas or old Ziost, and a fair few Thulian humans have a faint red tint to their skin or other such markers. Those few Pureblooded families that have not bred themselves into functional humanity resemble Purebloods as found in the rest of the Empire, albeit before the return of the Empire many of these had begun to show undesirable traits from generations of genetic bottleneck. Thankfully, the influx of new Purebloods has ameliorated this somewhat.

Spoiler: Religion

The worship of the old Pantheon is certainly not thriving on Thule - most people on the planet follow a fairly standard galactic worldview, but it does have a form of longevity that many other worlds in the Sith core cannot boast. Thule’s landscape thrives with folk traditions which originate in the old Pantheon. The Storm Festivals which greet the planet’s raging storms feature a feminised anthropomorphisation of the storm which characterises them as ferocious but also rejuvenating and life-giving, dating back to old worship of the Mother Goddess, Marserha Jochor. Pre-battle prayers have largely died out, but the cries that the soldiers of Thule bellow as they go to war mention figures still mention the old war gods names. ‘May Zyantha take your eyes!”, “Hezarkal take you cowards!” and so on. Libraries and military academies often feature the left hand of Typhojem in their iconography.

However, while most Thulians do not truly worship the Pantheon, they do know of it. While the average citizen of Dromund Kaas would not know a Sith god to name them, the Thulians have grown up with vestigial priesthoods scattered throughout them, with books on them in their libraries, and with abandoned or partially-abandoned fanes in the caves or rocks they have scarpered over as children. Where worship does persist it is usually in the form of farmers leaving sacrifices at countryside fanes, more as a matter of tradition than devotion, or as the noble houses consecrating their child in the name of a god - usually Zyantha, Mekhath or Hezarkal. The worship of gods such as Vorket, Hes’falda and Slythmyr has died out entirely on the planet, even amongst the vestigial priesthoods.

Speaking of the priesthood, Thule is one of extremely few places that can still boast of possessing one. Temples, typically looked upon fondly as retreats of eccentric historical figures, still exist within many of Thule’s cities, and though they are almost never what one could call busy they do possess a priesthood of largely elderly priests and small congregations that sustain them, alongside traditional endowments from noble houses with a historical association with them. There are also the Chain-Priests, a small order of priests dedicated to Urgak-Val who play a role in the slave trade on Thule.

The largest of the planet’s temples is the Great Temple at the very heart of the planetary capital of Hurom. The Great Temple is ancient, and absolutely enormous. Its towering stone and metal edifice looms over the city, and is the heart of the planet’s nexus - it seethes with a passive dark sided energy. The temple is where the religion still lives with any sense of vibrancy, its priesthood is a genuine political force upon the planet, the government of the planet meets within its halls, and many regiments are blessed here before being sent out into the galaxy. It is perhaps within the Great Temple of Hurom that the Sith religion is at its greatest power and reverence anywhere in the galaxy.

Spoiler: Culture

Thule is not the world it once was - though it is utterly militaristic, so too is it fond of life’s pleasures. The planet’s populace are largely relatively affluent, and outside of the military training compulsory for all those who live upon it, pace of life is surprisingly slow. Thule is a beautiful, but arid planet, and much of the world is a brushland wilderness of warm-hued rocks favoured for hunting grounds by the planet’s old nobility, and as trial-grounds for those hoping to join Thule’s lauded special forces groups. The areas around the planet’s cities are generally pleasant however, with abundant oases, slow-running rivers of clear water and sizable aquifers. These water sources are supplied through the ferocious storms that occasionally whip up around the cities, brutal enough that many from off world would react to them with fear, but the Thulians celebrate their coming with Storm Festivals believed to date back to ancient worship of Marserha Jochor. Though the planet is a dark sided nexus, it does not operate with the ferocity of Korriban and is somewhat more subtle. Though it may skew one towards more dark sided acts, it is a velvet whisper and not a slavering beast.

On the outskirts of the cities roll pleasant vineyards and rolling agricultural fields, each one staffed by farmers whose clans have held the land for centuries and who are said to be a better shot with a rifle than the average Imperial soldier. Many of these fields hold cultivars of ancient planets - dating back to Ziost or Dromund Fels in the days of the ancient Sith. All of Thule’s cities are fortresses in their own right, with towering walls and emplacements fit to repel an Republic battle-group. Each city also hosts not only a garrison large and well equipped enough to call it a standing army, but also its own populace - which is trained from early childhood to the extremity of old age in military affairs, and required by law to own a blaster rifle (or a pistol, for small children). Predictably, codes of honour fairly comparable to those found within the more established and long-running Imperial houses of Dromund Kaas are highly prized and deeply ingrained upon the planet. Most cities of Thule extend below the ground, in comfortably cool and well ventilated tiered subterranean suburbs which can transform into murder-corridors for any invader who tries to breach them.

The noble houses who still hold considerable influence on the planet live up to their underlings example, and each house typically holds several hereditary officerial roles in regiments both on and off Thule, which they prepare their various scions for rigorously from birth - to fail in the expectations associated with these responsibilities can lead to anything from shame to exile or death. Most of these houses, although now largely human in appearance, trace their origins to older Pureblooded families and traditions of the era persist in their forms to this day - a Kissai-descended family might maintain a fencing school that also teaches a group of youths from throughout their city, or even hold onto vestiges of war-magic, such as the ability to use force blast, though this is very rare. One hailing from a Massassi origin might still train their children in Arvalok, a derivative of the Lanvarok which mounts a blaster rifle on the end of a broad-bladed halberd and in rare cases may even still hold an ancient Lanvarok as the ancestral weapon of the leader of their house. Conversely, a family that traces its origin to the Zuguruk might prime their children to join the Empire’s diverse engineering and siege corps, or fit them with extensive and esoteric battle-cybernetics.

Many of these houses, being Sith derived as they are, are typically cutthroat and cunning. But the planet’s compulsive need to be military ready has precluded the development of wide-scale conflict between them. Instead matters are most often dealt with through closely scrutinised duels, either with blaster weaponry or melee weapons depending on the duelist’s choice. Many noble houses host duelling circles or arenas to accommodate this practice, some of which claim to have seen duels of great legend such as the Feat of Zurvash the Bloodied who slew eighteen mercenaries hired by the near-human guilds of Hurom when they sued for legal equality, or the Gauntlet of the Crimson Sons, which saw several succession crises born in the city of Nerrem. When these more accepted options fail or prove unattractive however the Thulian houses are not immune to the lure of the assassin, and for this they most often turn to criminal syndicates which have risen amongst the planet’s oppressed near-human populace.

One might expect to walk the streets of these fortress cities and experience a measure of Dromund Kaas’ militant dourness, but they would be wrong. One might see the populace walking in styles inspired by military dress, heavily armed guards and armoured vehicles at each junction, and a rifle over many ‘civilians’ shoulders, but that clear warrior mindset does not make the Thulians a dour group. The colourful bazaars, teeming with spices and fine wines, chime with laughter and vibrant conversation. Cafes bustle and art galleries crowd, public parade squares trumpet Imperial victories and the countless arms ranged in each city ring with activity. Guards on the street ruffle the hair of children, and fireworks fire from the battlements almost as often as test-fires of artillery and AA guns do.

Thule has another claim to fame however - the Sith language has survived on the planet more profoundly than it has in the halls of many of the old Pureblooded houses of Dromund Kaas. It is almost as common to hear a Thulian dialect of Low Sith (distinct, but mutually intelligible to the original language) as it is to hear Basic in most of Thule’s cities, and in some of the more remote cities, or the inner wards of the capital, Hurom, it may even be more common to hear Thulian outright. The dialect is typically written in the Aurabesh alphabet however, and Kittat has not been well preserved outside of the planet’s temples.

Thulian food is a delightful fare - roasted meats, perfumed stews flavoured with sweet fruits, stuffed vegetables, rice and pasta dishes, fresh, simply cooked fish with citrus, light tapas-style meals. It is diverse, healthy and delicious, and is much feted within Thulian culture at large. It is well known, after all, that a well fed army fights far better than a hungry or unhealthy one. Of course, the wines of Thule are regarded as some of the Empire’s finest and its meads produced from the planet’s apiaries are lauded as well. Though those apiaries are said to host species of insect made particularly vicious by the planet’s dark sided nature, and those not of the centuries-old hereditary apiarist families rarely dare to approach them.