Star Wars FAQ

Q
What exactly us The Force?

A
The Force is a metaphysical, binding, and ubiquitous power that held enormous importance for both the Jedi and Sith monastic orders. The Force was viewed in many different aspects, including, but not limited to, the light side, the dark side, the Unifying Force, and the Living Force. The first two aspects were concerned with the moral compass of the Force in its various manifestations. The light side of the Force was the facet aligned with compassion, courage, healing, and benevolence, while the dark side of the Force was the element aligned with hatred, fear, aggression, and malevolence. The latter two aspects were defined by prominent Jedi philosophies: The Unifying Force essentially embraced space and time in its entirety while the Living Force dealt with the energy of living things. Though the Force was categorized in this way, there were no specific abilities or powers that were only usable by a follower of a different path of the Force; the Force partially existed inside the life forms that used it, and drew energy from their emotions.

Some beings, particularly the Sith, believed that the dark side of the Force was more powerful than the light, though it was possible that the dark side was just more tempting to those who used it (or desired to use it). Others thought of the Force as an entity capable of intelligent thought, almost as a sort of god. Anakin Skywalker, who was believed by some to have been conceived by the Force itself, may have; if this belief is correct; lent credit towards the view of the Force as a sentient entity.

Though the Force was thought to flow through every living thing, it could only be harnessed by beings described as "Force-sensitive". This Force-sensitivity was correlated with, and sometimes attributed to, a high count of internal micro-organisms called midi-chlorians that were found in a Force-sensitive's blood: the higher the count, the greater the being's potential Force ability, though there were some exceptions to this rule. Force-sensitive beings were able to tap into the Force to perform acts of great skill and agility as well as control and shape the world around them. Sometimes this ability was described as having a strong Force "aura".

Q
Who was Yoda's master?

A
N'Kata Del Gormo was a Hysalrian Jedi Master who lived during the times of the Galactic Republic. Gormo was present on an unidentified swamp world when the young Yoda and his Human friend crash-landed. After a couple of days, he met with the duo and informed them that they were in fact Force-sensitive; so began the duo's training in the ways of the Force.

Soon after the training was complete, a government starship hailing from the Galactic Republic came to "rescue" the pair of Force-sensitive individuals in response to their distress signal.

Q
Who or what are the Sith?

A
The Sith are an order of Force practitioners who have chosen the dark side of the Force as the source of their power. Members of the Sith Order are called Sith Lords or Dark Lords of the Sith. The sworn enemy of the Jedi, the Order has existed in many forms and structures throughout history. Originally, the Sith were a humanoid species, enslaved by a group of exiled Dark Jedi. These renegades came to call themselves the Lords of the Sith, or simply Sith. The goal of the Sith was to conquer the Galactic Republic and exact vengeance on the Jedi Order.

Sith only operate in pairs -- one master and one apprentice. Though it was not always so, under the current doctrine of the Order there can only be two Sith Lords at any given time. This doctrine was put in place by a legendary Sith Lord named Darth Bane. Bane did this to prevent the destructive infighting that plagued the Sith Order for millennia. With this system, Dark Lords pass the Sith legacy through the generations in an unusual and violent way.

After years of working together, an apprentice will kill his master when he senses an opportunity to become the master himself. This new master then takes an apprentice of his own. Of course, should the apprentice fail to kill his master, he will surely be killed in retaliation and the master will find a new apprentice. This method uses the Sith Lords' innate ambition to make sure that only the strongest Sith survive.

Unlike the Jedi, who use their own names, Sith Lords take a title that starts with Darth (the ancient Aurabesh pronunciation for the word for "dark") and that ends with a name of their master's choice, such as Darth Vader or Darth Plagueis. This was not always the case with the Sith. It's a system used by modern Sith Lords to hide their true identities.

Like the Jedi, the Sith are skilled in the art of lightsaber combat. Some of the most legendary Force swordsman have been Sith Lords. In recent history, Darth Maul was considered one of the most talented and savage warriors ever to wield a lightsaber. Maul used a custom-built, double-bladed lightsaber and could easily fight several Jedi at once.

In the Jedi Order, each Jedi student makes a journey to get Ilum crystals for the lightsaber they will one day build. This journey is considered a rite of passage. As a result, Jedi lightsabers are blue, green, or the very rare purple depending on the crystals they find.

There is no such ritual for the Sith. The Sith prefer synthetic crystals for their lightsabers. The synthetic crystals save the Sith the long trek to get Ilum crystals, provide more blade tuning options, and give Sith lightsabers their characteristic red blade.

After thousands of years and many wars, the modern Sith Lords have learned to use deception and subterfuge rather than outright warfare to further their quest. This shadowy, manipulative approach is what ultimately led the Sith Order to destroy the Jedi Order and take over the galaxy during the rise of the Galactic Empire. But as with all things, none of this would have been possible without the boundless power afforded to them by the Force.


Q
What is the Sith Code?

A
The Sith Code was the mantra that reinforced the core beliefs of the Sith Order.

Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me

Q
I've heard there is a Sith Ranking system...

A
1. Reveridian - Sith apprentice chosen by Sith Master
to be an official Dark Side Adept

2. Shiboku - Dark Side Adept to survive months of secret
Sith training

3. Valoridian - Sith Apprentice trained to utilize Force
lightning and Force choke

4. Utalli - Sith Apprentice can harness the dark side powers
of Force avalanche, Force earthquake and Force fireball

5. Gorgais - Sith Apprentice capable of succeeding and becoming
the new Sith Master

6. Whatazor - Sith Master with own selected Sith apprentice