The Circle was interchangeably both the physical location and societal organization within Clan Plagueis’ domain where Force Users were trained prior to 36 ABY. The physical training center was located on and within 10-Alliel, an asteroid located within the asteroid belt found in the Aliso system. The organizational side of the Circle was a group of trainees led by the Taskmaster working under the Overseer. It was destroyed by the Phantom Assembly in late 38 ABY.
History
Alliel was discovered during routine exploration of the Aliso system after Clan Plagueis had colonized the main planet of Aliso. The asteroid was chosen for its proximity to Aliso which allows for relatively quick travel to and from the Pinnacle. It was assigned to be the new Plagueis training ground for new members who could easily be hidden inside the asteroid for both safety and to keep the existence of Aliso hidden until trainees were worthy.
While construction of the Circle was ongoing, a small and very temporary building was placed on the surface of Alliel allowing for training to continue while the main internal structures were being completed. Once construction was completed the surface building was converted into a small starport to ferry trainees into the training ground, while all other permanent structures were carved out of the center of the asteroid.
The Circle remained Plagueis’ primary training facility up until late 35 ABY. The Dread Lord at the time, Selika Roh, decided to dissolve the societal aspect of the Circle, leaving the structure mostly unused and unstaffed. While it was still open to those that could obtain the proper clearance, the duty of training new recruits was delegated to the House leaders.
In late 38 ABY, the Phantom Assembly orchestrated an attack on the Aliso System, striking multiple different points of interest at once. Their true target, however, was the Circle, which they bombarded with turbolaser fire, splintering 10-Alliel and leaving the facility entirely non-functional and effectively destroyed. The twisted wreckage remains in the asteroid field after the Phantom Assembly successfully fled the attack. While the Circle’s destruction was not impactful on Plagueis’ operational ability, it left a symbolic scar on many of the Clan’s higher ranking members due in no small part to Laren Uscot’s role in the attack.
10-Alliel
A view of the asteroid belt from Aliso's orbit.
Alliel was the fourth largest body in the Aliso asteroid belt and comprised approximately 4% of the mass of the entire circumstellar disc. The oblate spheroid shape of Alliel had a surface area of approximately 800,000 square kilometers. During the destruction of the Circle, portions of its mass were obliterated or broken off, making its size much less notable.
The Circle
The Circle was the main training ground for the new members of Clan Plagueis. Hidden within the center of the asteroid, 10-Alliel, the exact location was kept a secret to all except those within the highest ranks of the Clan.
Physical Description
The Circle was a well fortified building within the interior of Alliel. The oblate spheroid shape of the asteroid made the construction of The Circle difficult and as such, the building consisted of three distinct rings. The three floors (rings) of The Circle were utilized for different purposes. The open nature of the interior of the building allowed for people on the second and third floors to watch the training and sparring happening in the training ring on the first floor.
Since its destruction, while the rough shape of the structure remains, much of the interior has collapsed in on itself or broken off of the asteroid, leaving twisted, scorched metal remains snaking over and through the asteroid while debris drifts around it.
The Training Ring
Located on the first floor of The Circle, the training ring was a circular pit designed for sparring and dueling. The pit had an extensive holographic system, allowing for training simulations to be performed in various geographical locations. Situated along the perimeter of the training ring were several Armory weapon caches as well as sparring droids and dummies for melee practice.
The Shooting Range
Located on the second floor of The Circle, the shooting range consisted of several different specialized firing lanes for the Clan's non-force user military training. The lanes were walled off and contained in order to limit accidents and distractions, each with a monitoring camera that could be accessed by the Taskmaster from their datapad. Almost a quarter of the floor was made up of the administrative offices for the Taskmaster as well as visiting members of the Clan's summit. Each office and lane opened up to, and was situated around, a large walkway and viewing area of the Training Ring.
The Sleeping Quarters
While Clan Plagueis is not known for their gentle training methods, several bunk-style quarters had been arranged around the third floor of The Circle for the use of their members. Additionally, the mess hall could be found on this level, along with a library equipped with Shadow Academy modules and terminals. As with the second floor, the quarter of this level directly above the administrative offices was blocked off for the use of the Taskmaster and any visiting members of the Clan's summit. This level also had the only exit to the asteroid’s space flight hangar, which could only be opened with access codes known exclusively by Summit members.
Training Methods
The Circle was a sub-unit meant to mold the Clan’s Novitiates and Journeymen into strong, capable Plagueians by the time they become Knights, Professionals, and Captains. As such, to say that the training performed in the Circle was intense would be a gross understatement. Journeyman deaths were likely and psychoses from the emotional and mental trauma were practically guaranteed.
The Trial of Imprisonment
Before any real training began, all incoming Plagueians were subjected to restricted confinement in which they were cuffed without food or water in pit-like cells below the Training Ring. Their initial trial was to escape their imprisonment before succumbing to death by starvation or dehydration, all the while hearing the training of the previously successful Plagueians above. Those who lived through this test were released into the Training Circle where they first met the Taskmaster. At this point, members were required to prove themselves as dedicated and worthy to the Ascendant Clan and must earn the privilege to access the second and third rings where they can get to the food and water they need. The weakest Novitiates die in this first trial.
The Trials of Skill
In addition to loyalty and dedication, the Ascendant Clan needs members to have unmatched prowess in their respective disciplines. As such, members of The Circle were consistently tested on their capabilities in combat, knowledge, and their other skills. These tests ranged in nature from basic combat with other battle team members to more intensive tasks such as surprise situations and dangerous scenarios. Aside from making them stronger, these tests were designed to make the members of Clan Plagueis more wary, resourceful, and capable. The specifics of each trial are at the discretion of the Taskmaster and occured throughout the entirety of the training process.
One of the more common tests of member combat skill was the Fighter’s Gauntlet. This trial involved the subject facing up to five other members of the Circle in hand-to-hand combat. When a fighter falls to the ground, he or she must press their hand against one of three raised pressure pads situated in the ring. If the member performing the trial defeats five opponents, he or she would face the Taskmaster or another summit member to fight and complete the trial.
The Trial of Fear
As the Journeymen got closer and closer to Knighthood and its equivalents, they needed to face more and more of their stronger emotions. For this trial, the member was taken to an out of system location where the Taskmaster had tailored the trial to prey upon the deepest fears of the student. These locations could be anywhere in the galaxy that fit the needs of the trial. Although it was designed to make him or her overcome and fight through their fears, worst case scenarios often resulted in death or complete mental disability. More often than not, this test was more lethal and damaging than any of the others.
The Trial of Ascendance
The final task of Journeymen of The Circle, The Trial of Ascendance was direct combat with the Taskmaster and another member of the Clan Plagueis Summit. This fight would test all of the student’s attributes that were cultivated by and for the previous trials. The member would have no choice but to demonstrate complete dedication, skill, control of fear, and all the other attributes expected of a fully-fledged Plagueian. Despite the fact that Journeymen were generally not allowed to face this trial until they were acceptably prepared for it, the odds of success were still low. Failure could either prove that the Journeyman was not ready to leave The Circle or result in the loss of limbs or even death.
Clan-Wide Use
Although primarily for the training of Novitiates and Journeymen, the Circle facility was available to all members of the Clan, provided they were granted security clearance by the summit. With access to the simulations of the training circle, the Shadow Academy research in the library, and the specialized firing ranges, members of the Houses could maintain top conditioning as needed. In addition to simply using the Circle to continue training, all of the Clan Plagueis trials could be repeated with difficulty tailored to fit the specific member. Although he or she may have required outside help for this, the Taskmaster would still preside over these repeat trials. With this inclusion, members of the Ascendant Clan proper were more likely to interact with and incidentally help test and train the members of the Circle.