Thanagal's Various Writings

[Thanagal]

A Dissertation on the Nature of the Darkside: The Sith, Force and Governance
By: Acolyte Thanagal

Preamble

The darkside and its affiliated, though naturally heavily associated with the darkside of the force, have a reach far beyond the force users who wield their emotions to perform the daily miracles we’ve grown accustomed to. The darkside is a broader set of principles and doctrines that in their enforcement have influenced the culture and actions of many a civilization throughout history, Sith and non-Sith, force user based and non force user based. This fact, while initially surprising to some, becomes plainly clear when one comes to understand that the darkside is fundamentally connected to the nature of the universe with its counter, the light side also having its share of influence in creation. Whether or not this feud between the two is intrinsic and required for the universe to even exist, one cannot ignore the fact that they are in conflict, have been and for all likelihood shall continue to be. This struggle remains constant despite the fact that the lenses through which each is viewed has changed significantly throughout history. The nature of the forces themselves however remains ever stagnant. 

It is accordingly the duty of us all to recognize the state in which we live, the state in which the darkside and the ideals surrounding it exist, documenting and commenting on it accordingly. That is the purpose of this dissertation, to offer a certain understanding for a more cohesive and constructive point of view on the way things are and the way, perhaps, they should be.

The Darkside Itself

The darkside itself can be crudely summarized with a simple universal rule, a rule that applies in both a secular and spiritual context, regarding the individual or the collective, a matter of cognition or nature and everything in between. The rule in question being the simple truth: “A being, any being’s, capacity to exist and influence reality is solely determined by its specific own ability to exist.” In essence, a being's right to exist in general or its right to exist in a specific state of affairs is conditional on its ability to bring about said existence. The natural state of the universe is to ingrain decay and entropy. Accordingly survival requires struggle, if one does not struggle, one ceases to exist. Accordingly existence naturally selects and favors struggle and will to power.

Accordingly one develops a hierarchical understanding of existence in which a concept is simply superior in an objective sense by its greater ability or will to exist. Following this understanding emerge various additional notions and concepts such as a blatant rejection of any false notions of existence, be it the egalitarian idea of general equality and rights for all or in any notion that establishes a false hierarchy in which one weaker would rule over one stronger because of a misattribution of power not in line with the rule of the darkside. The first principle’s justifications are rather plainly given. If we recognize that the universe is governed by the rules of the darkside, that those that fail to muster sufficient will are doomed to extinction, then you necessarily develop an anti-egalitarian position. The weak are doomed to eradication. To lift them up, to expend one’s own power for their benefit is folly and only ensures that one’s rivals who don’t engage in such sacrifices will overpower you. Wherever egalitarianism exists it is entirely an artificial construction, doomed by the laws of nature to eventual extermination only prolonged by the amount of the powerful the principle can successfully dupe into following it.

That second part is also of great importance and particular relevance to the Sith Empire. There are a multitude of views among the present Sith, regarding the matter of purity of blood. A prime facie understanding of the principle of the darkside would perhaps induce someone to a rather firm radical ‘meritocratic’ stance. This is certainly a strong position held by some within the Empire when considering the alien question in regards to the Sith Order specifically or the Sith Empire at large. However, a more careful examination is called for. Given Sith traditions of a hierarchy of purity are well, traditional, it begs the question that if this supposedly purity blind account of the darkside is so clearly demanded, why have the Sith for eons rejected it. The old cannot be simply tossed out as some would demand, the legends of the past are too grand to be dismissed as fools. What are they missing then? Their attempt to operationalize competence and skill in simple notions leave them blind to the esoteric, and too radically devoted to the practical. We are more than a nation of warriors and servants. The Sith as a being is of a higher order in quality as well as degree. A broader view is called for one where additional facets, including the traditional facet of blood purity can play a significant, even decisive role. One should not be too rash to impose without due a thought one hierarchy or another as the true one. A false hierarchy is as harmful as a lack of one entirely.

Despite this understanding regarding the nature of the darkside there are complications that arise when trying to put theory into practice. An objective rule becomes muddied in a subjective world where people must, at the end of the day, make determinations. Something I shall be examining in the following sections.

The Sith

The Sith, both individually and as an order have emerged as the vanguards of the concepts, ideas, and principles of the darkside of the force and are in essence the result of implementing the ideas in practice, albeit with a strong focus on the force specifically. It is important to note however how much more far reaching the Sith are than their relation to the force. It is no coincidence the intergalactic nations that spring up around light side practitioners have fundamentally very little to do with the light side practitioners themselves while the empires that the Sith craft around themselves are accordingly named Sith Empires.

It is because the darkside far more than its counterpart exacts a universality in its doctrine to apply to all things or perhaps this can simply be seen as a result of the darkside’s comprehension on the nature of hierarchy and accordingly on the nature of power and its wide ranging enforcement on others, even those not connected directly to the force. Either way these notions regarding the Sith have resulted in one of the most notable characteristics emerging, the contradictory practice that comes into being. Is the darkside a matter of individual supremacy or collective supremacy? Many elements of this are born out when examining things like the Sith code and the Sith Empire.

The Sith Code ostensibly a personal guide to true freedom from the perspective of an individual, while also having an element of a broader prophecy surrounding a Sith’ari, an individual representing the ultimate ideals of the penultimate hierarchy with truly just one individual, one concept at the very top. On the other hand however the themes the Sith code addresses are in many ways collective, without that they would have no meaning. Passion, strength, power, and victory. Concepts and notions that cannot exist solely with the self. Passion always addresses an external desire, strength and power both meaningless without comparison to the more or less strong and powerful and not to mention victory always standing as victory over something else. All of these themes point to a broader theme amongst the Sith, the fact that they themselves form an order of many individuals includes within it a recognition of the strength of uniting and cooperating, an acceptance that the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts and a drive for a higher purpose that goes beyond the self. This itself can be seen in the Sith Empire as well, the very institutions of it are individually hierarchical with a supreme ruler at the top but yet as a broader institution it mandates cooperation even to the detriment of the determination of the true superior force amongst the group in favor of broader cooperative goals.

In these ways the Sith embrace a doctrine of compatibility around the darkside. One that sees not contradiction but affinity with an ideology of supremacy being both individualistic and collective in its nature. Yet in many ways the recognition of the greater supremacy achieved as a group compared to the ultimate supremacy of a single individual on top has, in many ways defined the Sith and I imagine shall continue to define them, eras of consensus notwithstanding.

The Force

The force is a fundamental aspect of the universe, although rather distinct from a scientific perspective to other fundamental aspects of the universe such as physics, it too operates on its own laws and behavioral tendencies if a bit more elusive to the intelligent minds of our age. The darkside accordingly is understood to be an aspect of the force and although the darkside in its nature seeks to enforce a specific ideal or rather a rule on existence it would be a misunderstanding to then attribute this tendency to the force itself. The force is always acted upon by the will of those with the capabilities to interact with it. In that sense it is a fundamentally passive thing.

Practitioners of the darkside of the force achieve their various miracles through a particular method of interaction with the force. One informed by the ideals of the darkside. The various abilities associated with force users or darkside practitioners are seen as an expression of their will brought forth from wielding the force. It is vital to understand what is meant by this language. People are said to be wielding the force the same way one would wield a blade or a blaster, as a tool interacted with through one's will for something to happen. The force’s interaction with an individual is far more fundamental. While an individual fueled by emotions can see a more effective result from wielding a blade or even a blaster the force directly correlates and interacts with it. Through the use of powerful emotions like fear and anger a practitioner of the darkside enhances their own willpower insofar as the force is concerned. As a part of enhancing one's willpower one is provided by the force access to greater power however this alone is not enough.

Just like with a blade or blaster, power that is not tempered by technique will fail to produce much of anything. Accordingly, to truly excel in the application of the force one must be disciplined and learned in the techniques of wielding it. But that is ofcourse a matter practically anyone learned in the force is fully aware of. Understanding of the force and the way it works in relation to the darkside is vital to a broad understanding of the darkside itself. The force serves as the most raw expression of power and through power one comprehends superiority in a broader hierarchical system. The tenants that apply to the force can accordingly be applied to a plethora of other doctrines and professions, even those of non force users because of its status as being the most raw form of this expression.

Governance

Governance and politics are fundamentally questions of how power should be arranged in a given society. Matters of specific policy come secondary as a result of the initial distribution of power. Individuals will support what they support but the question is then, will they have the power to enact it upon reality. When one relates this concept to the darkside one quickly finds the similarities in subject matter. While the darkside is more universal in the rule it prescribes on reality, governance, in so far as sentient beings and concerned, is one of the most important aspects in power relations in their lives and given the darkside’s doctrine rests precisely on power relations one can see how they become intertwined and why it is only natural that the darkside form a government around its ideals and won’t simply exist as a mode of thought for individuals.

One can then determine in examination of political concepts in their relation to any darkside governmental organization, three major tenants. These tenants are:Supremacy of Power, Hierarchy and Absolutism. Supremacy of Power means that society is organized along lines of power. Power’s fickle nature accordingly means that the society undergoes constant evolution. As the weak are tossed aside and replaced by the powerful along every rung of organization it is seen that society itself benefits. This is contrasted with other doctrines, such as the supremacy of law that subjugates all to the abstract or more concretely, to the will of the law which can and often is, the will of the weak. A government founded on the principles of the darkside cannot abide such a restriction, such an imposition of a false ruler.

The second matter of hierarchy is of course naturally expected when discussing the darkside. Hierarchy being of course an organizational structure in which people are ordered on a ladder of superiority and inferiority and in which power is accordingly allotted to individuals based upon it. In a government structure one must assign the darkside mandated correlation between ability and eventual power with a system in which those with greater ability rank simply to be better than those with less in every meaningful way a matter of superiority and inferiority can manifest itself in a government system. 

The final tenant of Absolutism ensures purity of doctrine in this matter. With supreme control of the faculties of state centralized one can make sure that the doctrines in question are maintained throughout as there is an understanding that dissent and deviation from these doctrines and notions leads to broader failures that can crumble a system. Through an absolutist and consequentialist analysis of its results one reaches the determination of its necessity when enforcing any such broad ranging doctrine throughout a society.

Conclusion

In this dissertation I’ve made an effort to explain the various ways the darkside interacts with the world around us. From natural things like the force to the socially constructed institutions we create as sentient beings. At the same time this document serves as an argument against its rejection, explaining simply the universality and the validity of its arguments and how logically accordingly it should be applied universally. Although as with all philosophies all is a matter of contention, given how such things have an even greater influence on our lives than the laws of physics, we should be prepared to undertake whatever efforts necessary to see the truth emerge as supreme above all other falsehoods. These ideas themselves then justify the total destruction and suppression of all not in line with the goal of the evangelization of the darkside throughout all known existence. Such is the duty of the Sith and through this the hope is that a greater understanding can facilitate a greater effectiveness in carrying out such duties.

[Thanagal]

A Sith's Role in War
By: Acolyte Thanagal

Preamble

This treatise is inspired by the writings of Neophyte Xulia Horuset, as available in the acolyte archives. In contrast to that piece, I write this one on my own initiative without having been tasked to do so. I accordingly am able to explore the topic in greater depth with no limitations of the assigned parameters of the task. I intend to take a broader, holistic view to this topic rather than just focusing on battlefield command. I shall instead examine in broad strokes the three main facets of modern warfare: Grand Strategy, Strategy, and Tactics. In each section I shall give an overview of the concept in general before going deeper into the particular facets of interest to the Sith in each of these areas of interest. This disquisition is to be understood in purely academic terms, I myself am no great warrior and lack much of any combat let alone war experience, this text is based entirely in my own review into this topic.

Grand Strategy

In war, a state’s Grand Strategy is the broad view of any and all means by which it attempts to accomplish its aims. This includes both military and non-military matters both during times of war and times of peace. It is to be understood in primarily instrumental terms, the policy goals (or ends) that the strategy seeks to meet are set forth separately from it by the appropriate mechanisms of government of the state. Grand strategy is accordingly the discipline of aligning means to ends, marshalling the relevant resources, organizing in the relevant ways and making the relevant decisions. The compiling of a Grand Strategy requires a holistic rather than a compartmentalizing view, one must ‘see the whole board’. An effective Grand Strategist knows how to effectively wield and coordinate military doctrine, force readiness, military production, civilian production, domestic compliance and propaganda, internal security, external intelligence, diplomacy, scientific development, resource management, and much much more.

Introducing the Sith into Grand Strategy adds a few extra facets to consider in relation to this. Firstly Sith are warriors and thusly a military asset to be wielded, their raw skill as killers both on a battlefield and as part of special forces being nearly unmatched. Secondly, Sith are beings of great influence, capable of swaying and manipulating through guile and diplomacy, capable of commanding loyalty in their subjects and uncovering secrets from their enemies. Within the Horuset Powerbase itself we see this manifest with the various Pentarch’s themselves showcasing the various kinds of influence a Sith can wield and the various domains and areas in which they can become experts. Lastly, Sith are beings of dominance, by their nature it is expected they will rise to positions of power and function themselves both as the Grand Strategists and as the setters of policy on which the Grand Strategist acts. It is accordingly the duty of the Sith to study Grand Strategy, to learn to think holistically rather than narrowly and to familiarize themselves with the practical facets of rulership rather than confining themselves to mystical minutiae.

Strategy

Strategy, sometimes called Theatre Strategy or Operational Strategy is the level just below Grand Strategy. More narrowly focused on the actual conduct of war, strategy deals with the orchestration and conduction of whole military campaigns. The same relation Grand Strategy has to policy and ends, strategy has to Grand Strategy. The Grand Strategy sets forth the broad military objectives to be achieved and the parameters in terms of material available and strategy is therefore the art of effectively wielding these resources as effectively and as efficiently as possible to achieve said goals. One could write a thousand volumes on strategy and its various applications, from troop movement and deployment to deception and formation and command structure and offensive and defensive primacy and so on and so forth. There is accordingly also a broad based view that needs to be taken when considering strategy, as there exist a thousand paths to the goal of ultimate victory. When it comes to the Sith within this domain, one naturally may consider the position of the Sith Commander. Sith are often in positions of command, controlling entire fleets and invasions. Following in Sith teachings such commanders lack many of the qualms others would when engaging in warfare. They are willing to sacrifice much to achieve victory, willing to take many losses to crush their enemy. They focus on total domination of their enemy as opposed to small scale and roundabout victories. In pursuit of this goal they are fond of using guile and terror, infiltrating the enemy, sowing chaos, destruction and fear on their Homefront. The Sith however are not a monolith in this regard, some focus on more diplomatic approaches even within the context of direct warfare, some take an effort to primarily secure strategic resources rather than total domination.

Another facet of the Sith view in strategy can be seen in the Sith code itself which places as one of its goals victory, the same ultimate goal of any strategy. The code guides the Sith into following their passions with every action and utilizing those passions to strengthen themselves and through this strength they achieve power, domination over reality and others. In strategy these facets manifest in Sith military organizational structures, the Sith demand supreme loyalty from their subordinates and enforce that loyalty through their will. They manifest this will not only internally with their own but also externally against their enemies. To a Sith, warfare is a manifestation of their will, pure force wielded to enact their own desires upon existence. When done properly, the Sith code teaches, one achieves victory. Victory under the Sith code is seen rather similarly to how it is seen in strategy. Under the Sith code the victor can forge truth and fiction, declare what is real and forge things in accordance with their own will, just like the view in strategy where victory is not a single universally defined thing but is rather in accordance with the policy in question and its stated goals and objectives.

Tactics

Tactics is the art of war on the level of the particular battle or engagement. It shares the same relationship to strategy above it as discussed before. The strategy details the goals, the meaning of victory in the relevant battle or engagement and assigns the available means by which to achieve it. On this level we see the ‘on the ground’ considerations that effective field commanders must contend with. Coordinating positioning, support (in the form of air support or escorts), maneuvers, feints, logistics and morale among others. The field commander must manage all these as well as often engaging in the battle themselves in various roles while also coordinating with the higher levels. It is often wrongly assumed that tactics is a matter simpler than strategy or Grand Strategy because it is often the domain of lower ranks. This is a grave mistake, tactics are in many ways more complex, involving difficult real time analysis and decision making. The reason for the lopsided arrangement of experience and skill to position is mostly because one has a larger impact the higher up one goes rather than it being a matter of the requirements in terms of skill and ability. 

When it comes to the Sith specifically as field commanders their uniqueness comes primarily in psychological effects. While they are doubtlessly powerful warriors they possess a unique acumen in causing abject terror in their enemies on the battlefield, both through conventional means and through training and skill with the force. This psychological aspect manifests itself in their own troops as well, many who’d prefer death against the enemy than the wrath of their own commander. Soldiers under the command of Sith are accordingly very unlikely to desert or show cowardice. In addition to this consideration there is much that can be said about unique tactical applications of the force and the varied abilities it grants, particularly when considering sorcery and alchemy open whole new avenues which are hardly thought of in conventional circles.

Conclusion

Thus concludes my cursory examination of the primary facets of warfare and the particularly unique points of consideration for the Sith within them. I feel this broader base view which takes into accounts the multiple levels on which warfare is considered does greater justice to the topic. There exist many more areas to expand upon, each term used can be the subject of a treatise in its own right and should it be seen fit I look forward to expansive deliberation on this topic and its varied considerations.

[Thanagal]

Administration, Economic and Science: A Sith Perspective
By: Acolyte Thanagal

Preamble

Out of all the domains within the organizational structure of the Sith Empire it is these three that are seen most often as out of the ordinary. Where it is natural and expected that Sith be in positions of authority and domination their position as direct administrators of such civil affairs perplexes many, even some of the Sith engaged in this very work. When it comes to the other spheres (as seen in the Dark Council or in the powerbase’s own Pentarchy) of War, Doctrine, Intelligence and Diplomacy it is more natural and expected (by most atleast) that the Sith command these areas of interest directly. Bureaucracy, some say, is the domain of the clerk and the scrivener, matters unfit for higher beings whose very nature is entwined with majesty and conflict.

I would call upon the reader to disenthrall themselves from these misconceptions. In the modern galaxy bureaucracy and administration are the greatest tools of Empire. Should the Sith fulfill their nature and dominate the galaxy we must be prepared to use these tools to their fullest and recognize the opportunities for influence beyond the banalities. For those who do undertake this effort there is much of value to be uncovered too often discarded by the short sighted.

Economic Administration

Succinctly put the field of economics can be understood as the science of production, distribution and consumption under scarcity. It follows from the study of this field one discovers the immutable laws of social decision and organization, the natural forces that shape production and the physical barriers of distribution. In the context of the Sith Empire it involves the complex management of the Empire’s existing material and manpower into the productive capacity necessary to carry out the goals of the Sith. However much power and influence even the mightiest Sith might wield even they cannot truly rule alone. They cannot build fleets, droids, fortifications, cities, starships, weapons and infrastructure alone. Through their will they possess the dominance necessary to wield the masses towards their ends but they require the skill to direct them well. Under these auspices the entire Imperial economy is managed in a top down fashion under the Ministry of Logistics which oversees production for all Imperial worlds. It appoints industrial administrators, sets order, quotas, regulations and pay for Imperial labourers. It also handles contracts with any independent corporations and firms the Empire may do business with in the course of its efforts.

Beyond production of war and limited consumer goods the Empire also manages large scale resource extraction on various planets and asteroids, valuing self sufficiency and autarky the Empire endeavors as much as possible to secure direct control over any necessary materials to avoid overreliance and trade and external powers. While there does exist a sizable labour force among the Imperial citizenry they are by and large manage smaller scale shops and firms for local needs under license from the ministry or serve as upper management of larger imperial corporations, the largest portion of the Imperial labour force comes in the form of slaves. Whether born into it or captured by Imperial conquest, slave labour is responsible for a significant chunk of Imperial production. Working in factories, mines, construction and domestic service slaves see to it that the majority of the Imperial citizenry can be sent to military service to serve the demands of Imperial conquest. Accordingly a significant portion of efforts to maintain economic growth and harmony comes about in the acquisition of new slave labour and the repression of slave uprisings where they pop up. It is perhaps in recognizing this fact that the proper position of the Sith within this field can be understood. Commanding an economy is, on reflection, not so different from commanding an army. One has a goal and the means in terms of material and manpower to meet it out. One maintains dominance and control through effective utilization of fear and loyalty and when carried out competently one can achieve a significant amount of influence, a grand tool by which to carry out one’s will.

Beyond the Empire wide considerations of production that manifest primarily through the Ministry of Logistics, there is also the matter of private holdings. Many Sith Lords within the Empire manage sprawling accounts with long lists of productive assets. Successful Sith are able to marshal the Imperial resources they are given by virtue of their positions with their own private resources. From the diplomatic and social benefits of opulent estates and armies of servants to the military benefits of private security forces there is much to be gained by direct procurement of this sort. It is worth noting that within the Horuset Powerbase in particular this fact has seeped into the minds of many of the Sith in positions of power. Enough that many offer favors and assistance in return for the aid of others in acquiring such assets and material for themselves and their growing personal powerbase.

Scientific Advancement

While still seen by many as a domain left to be relegated to those without access to the force, this sentiment, I feel, is much less common when it comes to the domain of science. Particularly among those Sith who familiarize themselves with the art of Sith Alchemy, there is a strong recognition of the congruence between the command over the force brought upon by the darkside and the command over the very laws of nature brought by scientific inquiry. Marshalling the intelligence and skill of the Imperial citizenry has allowed the Empire to benefit from a multitude of breakthroughs in design and development. From simple improvements in star ship engine design to weapons capable of destroying an entire fleet with a single blast. The emerging technological superiority that can be garnered through efforts in scientific research can bear immense fruit for the Sith who dedicate themselves to it. Such efforts have proven themselves again and again as being necessary, particularly given our conflicts with the Galactic Republic. It remains a simple fact that their own population vastly exceeds our own. Accordingly despite their less militaristic ways they have been able to marshal this superiority rather effectively in both the economic and military spheres. It has fallen to the Empire to make up for this disadvantage with intensive utilization of scientific innovation as a force multiplier. 

Unshackled from the childish moral qualms that restrict the Republic’s efforts the Empire has been able to pioneer many critical advancements which have assisted in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat on many fronts. Sith, with their natural capacity for domination, in particular those with the mind of an alchemist, have much to benefit from an interest in this field. Extending their dominion over the laws of reality more directly, commanding technological and biological terrors to bring their foes to their knees and uncovering secrets of production and power generation to give them key tactical edges are all matters which should interest any Sith worthy of the name.

Conclusion

These oft discarded fields of interest possess much of value for any willing to pay them sufficient mind. The effective marshalling of productive and scientific capacities is necessary for success in any conflict. Those keen to see their and the Empire’s efforts succeed would do well to pay both these matters mind and take care to see fully the opportunities excelling within them can garner.