Sith sword
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Sith swords were melee weapons used by the Sith in the days of the Sith Empire, from 6,900 BBY to approximately 4,990 BBY. Though similar to the bladed weapons utilized by the ancient Jedi, Sith swords were distinguished from Jedi katanas by their fundamental nature—both powered by and empowering the dark side of the Force.
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[edit] Characteristics
Sith swords were constructed through various metallurgical and magical means, transmuting base metals into an alchemical alloy possessing an unusual affinity for dark side energies. The rare metallic compounds used in its construction frequently resulted in a blade far heavier than its 1.4 meter length would indicate—6.5 kilograms, or over triple the weight of a vibro-ax, though there were examples of smaller swords massing as little as 3kg[1]. Thus, it often required great strength of body as well as in the Force to successfully wield the weapon in combat.
A user skilled in the dark side could alter the weapon's molecular structure, making it stronger and sharper, and reverse its magnetic polarity, turning it into a high-temperature superconductor that could deflect blaster bolts and other particle weapons as if magnetically sealed. The rare ores used in its construction resisted lightsabers in much the same manner as cortosis and Phrik alloy, while its polished surface reflected laser beams and other coherent light weapons like a mirror. But perhaps most significantly, the weapon served as a focus for the dark energies of its wielder, amplifying their power and refining their control until they became a walking nexus of dark side power.
The weapon's magnetic properties, combined with its attraction to the dark side of the Force, caused it to react unusually to discharges of Force lightning; The blade would attract and absorb the energy, storing it like an electric capacitor until the blade made contact with a substantial physical object, whereupon the amplified electrical energy was discharged— to an extremely devastating effect.
[edit] History
Developed by the ancient Sith, it was adopted by the Jen'jidai following their arrival on Korriban. The Sith's native martial traditions were absorbed, blending with the exiled Jedi's forms of lightsaber combat to create a powerful hybrid—much as the Dark Jedi would do with the Sith race as a whole upon seizing the mantles of Sith Lords.
Quite a few Sith Lords, including the Dark Lords Ajunta Pall, Marka Ragnos, Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh used Sith swords rather than lightsabers—either for tradition, or because they preferred the more visceral feeling of sword cutting through flesh. After the fall of the Old Sith Empire, the majority of the Sith abandoned Sith swords in favor of the more effective lightsabers.
Another pair of Sith swords was a legacy passed to King Ommin of Onderon from his family, which could possibly trace back to Freedon Nadd himself. The pair was later passed to Satal Keto and his cousin, Aleema.
Under Darth Revan and Darth Malak's rule, the Sith developed the Sith Tremor Sword, used by Dark Jedi and Sith troopers alike. Darth Malak was also rumored to have in his possession a powerful Sith sword which was recovered from Korriban[2], although he rarely used it in combat.
Ludo Kressh's war sword was a double-bladed sword, and therefore very dangerous to wield. Some say it was cursed, corrupting the mind of one who would use it.[source?] It is possible that this sword was recovered by the Jedi Exile, during the events of the First Jedi Purge, sometime before the deaths of Darths Sion, Traya and Nihilus.
In the New Sith Empire, the Dark Underlord wielded a pair of Sith swords.
Sith swords were last seen when Tavion Axmis, possessed by the spirit of Marka Ragnos, unleashed the hidden sword inside the Scepter of Ragnos against Jaden Korr. The sith sword glowed with dark side energy as Marka Ragnos battled Jaden Korr, ending with the defeat of Marka Ragnos and the destruction of the sword and the Scepter of Ragnos. Any remaining examples of Sith swords in the greater Galaxy persist as mere historical curiosities—archaic relics of a dead civilization and their extinct culture.
[edit] Appearances
- Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith
- Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire
- Star Wars Galaxies
- Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising (First appearance)
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II
- Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
[edit] Sources
- Tales of the Jedi Companion
- The Dark Side Sourcebook
- The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
- Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Information on sith swords contained ingame)
"A Mon Alone"
- Threats of the Galaxy
- Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
