- "Tell me what you regard as your greatest strength, so I will know how best to undermine you; tell me of your greatest fear, so I will know which I must force you to face; tell me what you cherish most, so I will know what to take from you; and tell me what you crave, so that I might deny you"
- ―Darth Plagueis
Mystery of the Wise
Preface
There is a sacred tradition proscribed by the oldest Jedi, whether Dark or Light, that states that each student of the ways of the Force, no matter the path they choose, must always earn their place on it. The Light is as unforgiving as the Dark, and the Dark as fulfilling as the Light, but always one must be prepared to learn, and therefore to teach, or lose the path which is trod. Three great Trials are proscribed from time immemorial; three tests of worthiness and skill to keep the path, learn the path, and choose the path, or fall from it by the wayside in order to earn the rank of Dark Jedi Knight.
Yet other tests exist in the Darkness, from the first tentative steps a seeker makes on the Path, to the laudable Trials of Knighthood themselves, and in this document they are explored. The first section of this document presents a thesis on the nature of learning in the Dark Brotherhood. Its subject matter is entirely based on real-life, hands on training experience and theory recognized as best-practice to an industry standard. The second section, through a redirect, contains actual information on what must be done to gain rank: The Master At Arm's Promotion Requirements.
Introduction
Though the Dark Brotherhood is fiction, it is also a rich, meaningful one, built over many years by many talented and creative individuals, and from this rich background comes the fun of the Brotherhood; feeling as if you are part of something great and historical and powerful, and by this same tradition, the path to earning the sacred Lightsaber should be as rich and meaningful if not to you personally, but the to the character whose life you lead within the Dark Brotherhood.
To this purpose, the Master-Apprentice program was instituted. From the rank of Apprentice all the way through to Dark Jedi Knight, a Master will provide guidance and training in the ways of the Brotherhood and the Orders. Here-in you shall find the requirements, advice and experience of the leaders of Clan Plagueis in reaching each rank.
Be advised that these are by no means rock solid demands – they provide a mere curriculum of possibilities for Masters. The Master may change them as they see fit, adding or subtracting from them as best suits the Apprentice, and in by same token, deciding how much time each Apprentice may need at each rank or with given tasks.
As a Master, from a Krath perspective, it is your job in some cases is to teach more practical things; spelling, grammar, syntax, construction, creativity, flow, style, description, planning – all the tools of writing. Primarily, however, your job is to help your Apprentice tread the path to Knighthood in a meaningful and fun way, to enable your Apprentice to truly feel as if they are part of the rich diversity of the Dark Brotherhood. This in turn lends itself to more esoteric teachings; the format and history of the Brotherhood, its lore, the lore of the Star Wars universe and the way and style our fictional world operates.
As a Master, from an Obelisk perspective, you have the task of teaching the ways of combat, defense, stealth, assassinations and the inimitable art and style of the legendary lightsaber. You must pass on your knowledge and skills with this through the mediums, intricacies and strategies that can be employed within Jedi Knight, Jedi Knight Outcast and Jedi Academy, at the same time educating your Apprentice in the operation and workings of the Brotherhood and Order on a fictional and practical basis so they may achieve their own glory for the betterment of the Obelisk Order.
As a Master, from a Sith perspective, you must convey the ways of power; strategy, mass warfare, space combat, tactics, weapon payloads and effectiveness, fortifications and flight skills. Through the multitudinous systems of X-Wing Alliance, TIE versus X-Wing, TIE Fighter, Stars Wars Battlefront, and Star Wars Empire At War you are to tutor and educate your charge in all their details and nuances while showing them the inner workings of the Sith and the Brotherhood, so that the Crowns do not tear it asunder in their bids for personal power.
To be a Master, you must have a good grasp on all these concepts and points of knowledge, and be ready and willing to share them with your Apprentice, to help them grow and develop their character, and chart their journey on the Dark Path until they are ready to wear the mantle of Knighthood. If you feel you are not ready for such, then I recommend learning to be so, as your Apprentice will look to you as the ultimate source of their guidance.
The Path and Trials
- "It is only the ignorant who despise education"
- ―Publilius Syrus
To give Apprentices a structure without confining them, and give them ‘hurdles’ to cross so they feel and see their accomplishments, we enhance the growth of their characters while also providing a sense of satisfaction and interest to the person behind the character, and by this methodology, the Trials of Knighthood and the Path of Kun came into being.
The Path of Kun charts their advancement through the ranks of Novice, Acolyte and Protector, having already attained the rank of Apprentice in the Shadow Academy and thusly joined Clan Plagueis.
After this point, and having reached this rank, the Apprentice has made it clear they wish to truly be part of the Brotherhood, and have shown the skill necessary to obtain their rank. However, it is also in many cases that they are not truly sure what they are doing or where they fit in, and the Trials of Knighthood help give direction and form to these goals, so that by the end of them, the Apprentice knows their place in the Star Wars universe, understands how it works, and has developed a character that further enriches that which has been laid down before.
There are always three Trials, to represent the three hurdles of rank that lead to Dark Jedi Knight. The first confers the rank of Guardian, the second, Jedi Hunter, and the final leads to being a Dark Jedi Knight, so that when the final is passed, the Apprentice has earned their Lightsaber in truth. Each of the three Trials will teach an Apprentice some new part of their character, the Star Wars universe or perhaps themselves or their fellow Dark Jedi. They should always be enriching in some fashion, and useful and interesting.
Likewise, both Path and Trials are meant to be fun and stimulating, as well as a learning experience, and as such there should never be any haste or speed un-necessarily involved within them. Prodding and pushing will sap the fun from everything; allow reasonable time to be given to work on them, but by the same token, it is expected that an Apprentice will not rush Trials to completion to gain rank faster, and will find them useful and have a sense of pride when done. The Trials are meant for learning and growth and fun, not as a fast track to higher power. Such morality often shows that the Apprentice is not enjoying the Dark Brotherhood, but instead seeks to gain rank to have power and dominance over others in this fictional setting, and this can only lead to problems. Neither is it wrong though for an Apprentice to complete a task quickly, provided the Master feels it has been done completely.
Giving Feedback
- "If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others"
- ―Tryon Edwards
One of the most difficult parts of a being a Master is giving feedback on Trials. Very few Apprentices will submit a Trial first time that meets the criteria of what the Master believes to be suitable entry, and for this reason, a Master must be able to get a clear mind as to what they are looking for, and be able to give constructive feedback without sounding arrogant, condescending or facetious.
To tackle the first point, we must consider again that every Apprentice is different, and that while you are judging the content, form and construction of a Trial, you are not to take into account your own personal bias’ and preference in that judgment. For example, if a character happens to choose their race as being Twi’lek, the Master must not judge the Apprentices Trial more harshly because it does not fit with that the Master thinks a Twi’lek must be like. The work must be taken on its merits, insight and form without bias, unless what is written is totally opposed to established, ‘official’ canon or errata of the Dark Brotherhood or Star Wars in general. This can sometimes be a hard balance to maintain, given the fact that everyone has opinions and sometimes topics can touch very strong opinions, but it is a necessity so that the absolute fairness required of a Master can be maintained and so that an Apprentice always receives due credit for their work. Set aside your own images and opinions, and judge the work for what it is, not what you think it should be.
The second point is perhaps the hardest. In giving feedback and opinion, just as in point one, always maintain your sense of fairness, and ensure that when faults and mistakes are highlighted, they are done so in a constructive fashion that neither bruises the ego of the Apprentice nor fails to put the point across. Explain why what was said was not quite what was being looked for, and explain how it can be done better or differently with a rationalization. If spelling or grammar is poor, explain this and suggest methods of improvement, just as if flow is jumpy, explain why it seems so from a readers point of view, and how this can be remedied from a writers point of view.
When you are satisfied that a Trial has been passed and done as well as it could be, it is the Masters responsibility to promote the Apprentice, or, if the Master does not have authority to do so, to ensure that someone (such as the Quaestor or Aedile) does so. Write your recommendation stating what the Apprentice has done to deserve it, how well they have progressed and your belief in them, and pass this on to the other party if you cannot or would prefer not to do the recommendation yourself.
The Master
- "The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence"
- ―Amos Bronson Alcott
As a Master, you have been through this same thing, though perhaps in some cases without the guidance provided by Trials or a specific Master. I myself did not have Trials when I was at that rank, nor did I have a Master per-se, for me, I had one person to look up to and receive guidance from, but many contributed in a hap-hazard way to my education, in a sometimes confusing and halting jumble. As a Master, if will be your job to sort out the jumbled, confusing and wrong and clarify all things for your Apprentice so that they understand what is going on, where to get information, what to do and where they can learn more. You are their guide and mentor and tutor, if not in matters of writing, in matters of the Dark Brotherhood and Star Wars. It should be your aim to teach something, even if that something is simply the names of a few famous Sith Lords, the historical significance of Duxon, what the Chancellor does or simply just what in the galaxy that thing standing at the bar in Mos Eisley is.
Patience is a virtue, and you must have it in abundance to be a Master. Sometimes you will be asked questions that make you want to tear your hair out because of their simplicity, but always remember that to the one asking, they do not know, or they would not have asked. The familiar to you is alien to the Apprentice. Likewise, you will also be asked complex, far reaching questions that have no simple or single answer, or that you may not even know yourself. In these cases you must know where you could find the answer, who you could ask, or be prepared to explain in details why the answer is so sophisticated. In either case, you must always be prepared to answer patiently, fully and fairly.
In being a Master, you are putting yourself in the position to control the fate of a member of the Dark Brotherhood, if perhaps only for a short time. As a Master, you will say when you believe the Apprentice has truly passed a Trial, and they will gain rank at your say so. Always be fair, truthful and supportive. Comment constructively, direct in the correct ways of things and be prepared to spend a long time on subjects or topics that are not easily understood. You are in charge of their efforts and conduct, and should set an example for them by your own actions and behaviour. None should truly gain-say your opinions or override your judgment, you are their Master, and such a relationship is sacred. It cannot be stressed enough how important fairness is, as by your say so, an Apprentice will reach the coveted and significant rank of Dark Jedi Knight.
The Apprentice
- "Education is like a double-edged sword. It may be turned to dangerous uses if it is not properly handled"
- ―Wu Ting-Fang
It is hoped that an Apprentice wants to do their Trials, so that they can come to have a rich and full character and enjoy the Dark Brotherhood for all the rich writing, historical and roleplaying aspects it has. If the Apprentice is not willing to listen to and abide by the judgment of the Master, does not wish to be guided or is too arrogant to accept help or see that they may not know everything or see the time the Master is giving to them, they have no place in the Master – Apprentice program.
When speaking person to person, it is right and proper for a Master and Apprentice to be friends and get along well, and to enjoy each others company. It is also right though for an Apprentice to give a Master the respect they deserve. The Master is going out of their way to help an Apprentice with no gain for themselves, while the Apprentice is gaining the benefit of increased rank and the time, knowledge and tutelage of the Master. Because of this, it is expected that even when speaking person to person, the Apprentice should be respectful and thankful.
When writing in a character based context, it is vital that the Apprentice shows proper deference for their Master. In the canon of Star Wars, Masters were the wisest and most powerful, seniors already strong in what the Apprentice is still learning, and this is doubly true of the Dark Side. The Master is stronger, older and wiser, and should be treated as such in the cut throat world of the Dark Side, where fear keeps order and brings power.
The Pairings
Roster