An OOC History

The Hands of Darkness have the honour to call themselves the first EU based Sith Empire Roleplay guild for Star Wars: The Old Republic.  The Hands of Darkness originally formed back in 2008 just after BioWare's initial announcement that they were working on a MMO successor of the critically acclaimed Knights of the Old Republic series.

Darth Derriphan, having led respected Sith guilds in the now defunct Lucasarts and SOE joint MMO Star Wars Galaxies and wanting to carry that legacy on to the new upcoming game, created a small community for Sith roleplayers called the 'Sith Council'. The community gained the attention of a few Sith roleplayers who engaged in post by post sith roleplay.

One member of this community was the Sith enthusiast Darth Mynock.  Finding a like minded person, who appeared to enjoy the lore and backstory of the Sith as much as he. Darth Derriphan propostition Darth Mynock with the idea of turning the small community into a full blow guild. Darth Mynock graciously accepted the proposition and together they began to set about the ground work for what would become the Hands of Darkness.

Together the pair worked on a concept behind the guild, a mature roleplay guild that would be based within the EU and remain true to the canonical settign of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.  It was deemed that this group would work in secret, and serve the Dark side of the force, manipulating things from the shadows.  This concept ultimately gave rise to the groups name, The Hands of Darkness.

A mere month after the announcement of Star Wars: The Old Republic was announced and the Hands of Darkness were ready to be unleashed upon the public. Setting up on a free guildportal, soon applications from across Europe began to flood into the site.  Soon a core member base was built up and others were invited to share in the role of leadership responsibilites. Darth Viscus was one such person, whose help in the early stages of the Hands of Darkness was essential in getting us to a point we could reach out beyond what we currently had, and get a better idea of where we should be come game release.

Soon enough it time to move from our current guildportal home and create a website for ourselves.  The new webiste created by another Shadow council member of the time, Darth Thantos, started to bring in a new batch of recruits. Impressed by the flashy graphics of the new site and the reputation that was spreading of the Hands being the No.1 EU Sith RP guild.  Due to personal issues sadly Darth Thantos had to leave the Hands of Darkness, and it was time for a promising new member to take up the reins of site administrator, Darth Inanivis.

Darth Inanivis joined the Shadow Council, and it immediately became clear that the current site was not going to be able cope with the future needs of the Hands.  So once more a new site was created, one that would go on to serve us to just prior to launch. During this point we would lose Darth Mynock, who at the time was suffering various personal issues, in a huge guild wide event that would set the stage for similar major events. 

It was during this period much of what is regarded as the modern era of the Hands was put in place.  the story of the Hands was fully fleshed out, community events became increasingly more common, and the RP reached new levels of quality.  It was also during this period the Hands of Darkness started to branch out into the real world with meet ups at various SWTOR events held in london.

As so the time finally came for the announcement of a launch date. Things which the Hands of Darkness had taken for granted in the past now had to be finalised. It was decided as we moved into a new era of the Hands actually entering the game a new site should be designed and fresh start made. Things such as ranks were re-evaluated and members began to wrap up long story plots in a final RP event that would see the Hands of Darkness destroyed only to be reformed in game. 

It has been a long three years as we waited patiently for the release of Star Wars: The Old Rpeublic, but there is no doubt that the Hands of Darkness are finally in a position to dominate the server they choose with high qaulity RP and an emphasis on a tight mature community.

Great Hyperspace War: 1347 BTC

The Great Hyperspace War Begins - 1347 BTC: Fueled by the arrival of two Republic Hyperspace explorers The Dark Lord Naga Sadow starts his brutal war on the Republic.

Formation of the Hands of Darkness: On the world of Korriz within an ancient temple to King Adas a group of Sith prophets meet to divine the future of the Sith Empire. Seeing only ruins in their visions the prophets bind themselves in a pact of secrecy working towards the goal of ensuring the continuing survival of the Sith Empire.

Defeat of the Sith Empire: The Republic beat back the Sith invaders forcing them to flee their ancestral homeworld of Korriban. One Sith Lord flees with those loyal to him to the forgotten world of Dromund Kaas where they set in motion plans to rebuild the Empire in secret. The Secret Cabal go their seperate ways, it is believed some followed those that fled to Dromund Kaas whilst others were exterminated during the Republics attempt to eradicate the vestiges of the Sith Empire from the Galaxy.

Survivors reach Dromund Kaas - 1327 BTC: The Sith survivors reach Dromund Kaas and start to rebuild the Sith Empire under the leadership of a mysterious Sith Emperor.

The Great Sith War: 347 BTC

The Great Sith War: The Fallen Jedi Ulic Qel-Droma and Exar Kun seek to bring about their own Empire based upon the ancient teachings of the Sith. Exar Kun converts many of his once fellow Jedi to the way of the dark side forming the Brotherhood of the Sith. One such Jedi would be a Zeltron named Terr Umbra.

Terr Umbra, Overlord of the Hands  

Dark Beginnings: Tasked with searching out lost Sith relics for Exar Kun, Terr Umbra began seeking out worlds once within the domain of the Sith Empire. Taking a party of Acolytes with him Umbra arrived on the ancient world of Korriz. Whilst setting up shelter within an ancient temple to King Adas, Terr Umbra began to have visions of Exar Kun's fall and the Sith once more confined to mere memories.

Umbra spent weeks within the temple, claiming he had been given insight into the galaxies future. He would start to hold grand sermons which spoke of death and ruin for the Brotherhood of the Sith, of which he would help those assembled survive. Many of the acolytes who had followed him on the expedition started to grow bored and wary as their Sith brethren fought in a distant war while they sat listening to the ravings of a mad man. Some would try to slip away under the cover of darkness hoping to report the madness that had overtaken Umbra, but they were quickly put to death by those still loyal.

A small group of acolytes had taken great interest in the words of Umbra, believing his prophecies to truly be visions handed down from the Force. But unbeknownst to them Umbra's words were far from mystical in their origins. Deep within the temple he had discovered an ancient parchment signed in blood and sealed with the image of a clenched fist by a cabal of Sith prophets during the time of the Great Hyperspace War. It would be this document that Umbra would use to forge his own cult, claiming the end of times for the Sith just as the prophets had. It would be the spirits of these prophets that he said spoke to him, reaching out from death to guide him in the survival of the Sith.

In an orgy of blood Umbra forged his new sect. Ordering those who spoke against him to be put to death, his followers now banded together under a new banner, The Hands of Darkness.

Revan and Malak turned to the dark side - 308 BTC: Revan and Malak first encounter the remnants of the True Sith Empire and the Sith Emperor. Both Jedi begin their path to the dark side.

Battle of Malachor - 307 BTC: Jedi Knight Revan kills Mandalore the Ultimate at the battle of Malachor and disappears into the Unknown Regions.

The Jedi Civil War: 306 BTC

The Jedi Civil War begins - 306 BTC New Dark Lords Revan and Malak return from the Unknown Regions and wage war against the Republic.

New Breed: For decades the Hands of Darkness remained on the world of Korriz, they had survived the defeat of Exar Kun and the Great Sith War just as Terr Umbra had said they would. Calling himself Overlord, his followers revered Umbra as a god. The Cult lived in near isolation, sending out agents into the galaxy in search of supplies or news of dark side uprisings. Over the years Umbra had grown old and a new generation born from the original acolytes were starting to grow ambitious in their own plans.

It was once again as if by the will of the Force that a new threat should return to the galaxy in the shape of the Dark Lords Darth Revan and his apprentice Darth Malak. Through their agents news of the new Sith Empire reached Terr Umbra who seized upon the chance it to serve his grip of power. Once more he began to speak of visions, handed down to him. Visions: this time not of destruction, but of conquest. Once more he sent out his agents this time in larger numbers, they infiltrated the training academies of the Sith, their mission was clear they would serve Revan in secret to bring about the downfall of the Republic.

Having placed themselves within positions of low ranking power in the new Sith Empire the Hands of Darkness could start to manipulate events and spread their message amongst the Sith ranks in secret. For a while all was going as Terr Umbra had proclaimed, Revan was on the cusp of winning the war and membership into the Hands of Darkness swelled as more learned of the so called visions of Terr Umbra but this was not too last.

Word spread throughout the Empire of Revan's death, and Terr Umbra's vision was rapidly crumbling as many were left with doubt that new Dark Lord Darth Malak would be capable of achieving galactic conquest. This decay was only exacerbated by the news of Revan's return to the light and the destruction of the Star Forge leaving the Sith Empire once more in ruin.

Destruction of the Star Forge - 303 BTC: With Darth Malak dead and the Star Forge destroyed the redeemed Revan heads back into the Unknown regions to face the True Sith Empire.

The Sith Civil War: 303 BTC

Darth Terros, Anzati Sith Warlord

Ruins: Without a strong figurehead the Sith Empire started to fragment as self-proclaimed dark Lords sought to carve out their own Empires. The civil war was a brutal one that left no corner of the Sith Empire unbloodied; its touch was even felt within the secretive Hands of Darkness.

Korriz soon found itself under the control of an Anzati Dark Lord called Darth Terros. During the waning days of Revan's war he had learned of Terr Umbra's visions and became ardent follower, but that was to change. Upon his taking of Korriz Darth Terros demanded that Umbra hand over his followers to fuel his fledgling Empire, Umbra declined. A bloody battle broke out as Terros sent his troops to march upon the Temple of Adas. With Umbra now too old it was down to his apprentice Verra to hold off the attacking hordes. The two Sith factions lay siege to each other for weeks with neither side gaining the upper hand.

With supplies dwindling both the forces of Terros and the Hands of Darkness began to starve in their camps and sickness spread. The war was taking a heavy toll on Umbra, who unable to carry on further confessed his lies to his apprentice. Terr Umbra explained that his visions were not true, that all he has said was merely lies to fuel his own last for power. Verra found herself struck with grief and anger, her family had been followers of Terr Umbra's ways for generations. Consumed by rage Verra lashed out with her lightsaber killing the charlatan that had manipulated them for so long.

With Umbra dead, Verra gave a rallying speech to the few surviving Hands. She proclaimed that Umbra had been killed by one of Darth Terros' assassins, but not before he could make one final prophecy. She claimed Umbra had seen their victory over Darth Terros, that with his death a new era of the Hands of Darkness was to be born. This spurred on the Hands of Darkness to win a great victory over the forces of Terros, leaving only those that pledged to serve them alive. Before it could even get started Darth Terros found his dream of an Empire in ruins and fled into the dark of space.

The Dark Wars: 302 BTC

Verra, Dark Lady of the Hands

New Era of Darkness: Taking control of the Hands of Darkness Verra saw Korriz and the Temple of Adas as a monument to the lies of Umbra and ordered that all be destroyed. Left homeless the Hands of Darkness began to live a nomadic lifestyle confined to piracy to obtain fresh supplies. Aboard an aging Sith Leviathan battle cruiser Verra led numerous attacks against Republic trading vessels on the edge of the Mid Rim along the Perlemian Hyperspace route.

Verra’s raids were brutal those taken hostage during were given the choice of serving the Hands of Darkness or put to death. Reports of attacks led by a savage Force Sensitive female soon filtered back down to the Republic, yet due to the devastation brought on by the last Sith Wars found themselves without the resources to track down every tale of piracy.

With no opposition against her Verra had amassed a vast fortune in stolen credits and goods. Sending agents once more out into the galaxy she was able to purchase a new home for the Hands of Darkness, a disused asteroid mining facility located in the Antemeridian System, known as Outpost 1138.

Sith Triumvirate Defeated at Malachor V: With the deaths of Darth's Nihilus, Sion, Traya and the destruction of Malachor V the Jedi Exile departs to the Unknown Regions to find Revan.

The Sith Civil War Ends - 297 BTC: the fragmented remnants of Revan's Sith Empire completely disintegrate and the Galactic Republic reclaims worlds that have been under Sith control since the Great Sith War, which ultimately ends the Old Sith Wars.

Dark Agenda: From their new headquarters on the inner edge of the Outer rim territories Verra began to make radical sweeping changes to the way the Hands of Darkness functioned. Taking onboard the ideals of continuing Sith survival that Terr Umbra had originally espoused, but without the need for lies of mystical visions. Verra and her agents began to search the galaxy for any remaining survivors of the Civil Wars offering them sanctuary amongst the Hands of Darkness on Outpost 1138.

With the option to hide in the shadows with the help of the Hands of Darkness or be arrested and put on trial for war crimes by the strengthening Republic, many acolytes and military officers who had once followed the great Sith warlords of the past welcomed the opportunity. Using their ill-gotten gains the Hands of Darkness began to create false identities for those who would offer unwavering loyalty to their cause, on the condition that they would never breath a word of the Hands to any sapient and that when the time was right they would once more rise up against the Republic under the banner of the Sith.

Verra led the Hands of Darkness for several decades, under the guidance of her trusted most advisors. But it would be the advisor she considered to be most loyal to her, an old Zabrak Sith Warrior named Myrkk who had served in the forces of Darth Nihilus, who would ultimately go onto betray her. Growing impatient Myrkk began to push for the Hands of Darkness to reveal themselves to the galaxy and claim themselves as a new order of Sith, but Verra had no such intentions and reprimanded such thoughts harshly. Seeing Verra as the one thing that kept him form his dream Myrrk, accompanied by his followers, stormed the chambers of Verra and brutally murdered her.

It would be another veteran of the old wars that would come to save the Hands. A former Imperial Naval Officer Theon Balis, who had led successful campaigns against the Mid Rim during his youth serving Darth Revan, rallied against the usurper. Uniting those who had no desire to see all that they had built once more fall to pieces, Balis led his own forces against the attempted coup and succeeded. Myrkk was put to trial and sentenced to death by his fellow advisers, joining his followers as they were ejected into the harsh vacuum of space to meet a gristly end.

Theon Balis, Reformer of the Hands.

The Shadow Council Forms - 266BT: With no clear leadership, the Hands of Darkness find themselves in complete disarray and soon multiple factions within the Hands start to pop up as each of Verra's trusted advisers attempt to place themselves in seats of power. Aware that without strong leadership the Hands of Darkness would fall apart. Theon Balis, knowing full well that he'd never have the power to take on the Force sensitives within the order alone, starts to approach the other advisers putting forward the notion of a council that would rule over the Hands of Darkness in place of singular individual.

Balis believed that with a ruling council the Hands of Darkness would be a much harder target to combat, and anyone who sought to control the Hands would have to make sure the rest of the council were also disposed of. He also theorised that under a council it would allow for the Hands of Darkness to become more destabilised in where the leadership sat, should the Republic ever eventually catch up with them.

Birth of Darth Viscus - 80 BTC: The Chiss Sith Lord Darth Viscus is born on the Chiss homeworld of Csilla

Birth of Darth Derriphan - 46 BTC: The Tapani noble Darth Derriphan is born on the planet Pella

The Lurking Darkness - 31 BTC: Unknown to the Hands of Darkness a long forgotten enemy had awoken on the distant world of Anzat. The ancient warlord Darth Terros had survived for centuries deep within a temple built by the last of his surviving followers. Now using the descendants of his original followers ‘soup’ to fuel his rapidly decaying body Terros began to search for a successor that would enact his revenge that had been centuries in the making.

His successor took the shape of a young girl who had been the child of two Sith Cultists from the Tapani regions. Tricking the cultists into handing over the young girl Darth Terros began a brutal training regime that would shape the child into a manipulative dark lady of the Sith, a weapon that he could use to get his revenge upon the Hands of Darkness.

The Sith lords plan backfired when the girl turned upon her master killing him. Taking the name Darth Derriphan, the girl set out into the galaxy in search for fellow Sith and any clues to the current whereabouts of the Hands of Darkness that her master had been so obsessed with.

The Great Galactic War: 28 BTC

Birth of Darth Inanivis - 27 BTC: The Human/Arkanian hybrid Darth Inanivis is born on the planet Tallaan.

Darkness Revealed: It was call for celebration amongst the waiting, ever watchful Hands of Darkness when news spread of a mighty Sith armada laying siege upon the Republic held Korriban reached the ears of the Shadow Council. For decades the Hands had infiltrated society taking up positions of importance so that should the Sith ever return they would be ready to aid in their galactic conquest, and now the time had come at last. Those who had become leading officials within weapons manufacturing and shipbuilding companies quickly turned over their corporate assets to fund the growing Sith war machine. Those in planetary governments forged documents that would eventually see whole systems handed over to the Sith Empire as their rightful rulers.

The young Force sensitive’s born into the Hands of Darkness soon found themselves offered up for further training at the now re-established Korriban Academy, ready to become the next batch of Dark lords of Sith.

At first the Shadow Council had welcomed the Empire with open arms. They sent an envoy to Dromund Kaas requesting an audience with the Emperor and his Dark Council. Upon the envoys arrival it was made clear the Emperor would not tolerate any Sith sects not under his direct command, the Hands of Darkness were left with a choice, disband and integrate into the Sith Empire or face the wrath of the Emperor.

The Shadow Council refused, and soon the Emperor sent three of his own to track down the Hands of Darkness and eradicate them for their treason. Using the navigation computer of the shuttle the Envoy had arrived in the Sith lords Vanden and Neferius located the Hands of Darkness hidden mining facility Outpost 1138. Faced with the Imperial navies finest battle cruisers the Shadow Council found themselves at the mercy of the attacking Sith forces.

The three Sith Lords stormed the outpost, killing any who stood in their way, and executing the Shadow Council. With the Shadow Council dead the surviving followers of the Hands pleaded for mercy at the hands of the lords, and mercy they were offered. In exchange for accepting them as their new Shadow Council and rulers, the Hands of Darkness would be allowed to continue in their existence as they had for generations. The Hands graciously accepted. The Sith Lords returned to the Empire, informing the Dark Council and the Emperor of the utter destruction of the Hands of Darkness. For their triumph both lords were given the highest honour of the title of Darth. With the two newly appointed Darth’s destroying any records gathered from the envoys ship that contained the location of Outpost 1138, the secret of the Hands of Darkness was once more kept safe.

But as soon as the new Shadow Council had formed betrayal was already on the mind of one of its members, Darth Torel. The Dark lord in secret sought out prominent experts in cybernetics and began to set about a plot that would one day see her rivals all but eliminated, leaving her as the sole ruler of the Cabal.

Darth Vanden, Envoy of the Emperor.

Shadows: Once more working in secret under the new Shadow Council the Hands of Darkness began to take a new approach in their efforts to expand. Whereas for generations only those born into the Hands were allowed to know of their true identity, the new Shadow Council began to once more seek elsewhere to fill the ranks of the Hands.

From the dark corners of the Empire the Hands of Darkness kept a watchful eye on citizens of the Empire that showed great promise. Approaching those they deemed worthy enough with an offer to join the secret cabal in exchange for wealth and power. Many would take up the offer using the Hands as a means to further their own personal agendas.

Fresh Blood: As time went on and the Great War waged furiously throughout the galaxy, a new generation of younger Imperials began to populate the ranks of the Hands. One such individual was a young Human Sith acolyte taken on in secret as Shadow Hand to the Shadow Council member Darth Neferius. The charismatic acolyte flourished in not only the use of the Force but political maneuvering, and soon he had amassed enough followers to attempt a bloody coup against his Master. Taking the new name of Darth Mynock the young Sith placed himself, with the help of his followers, on the Shadow Council in his defeated masters place, much to the surviving Council members chagrin.

Though through it all the Hands remained a cohesive organization, funding the Empire’s war against the Republic, a war the newly appointed Darth Mynock was eager to see continue.

Treaty of Coruscant: 0 BTC

0 ATC Sacking of Coruscant: Numerous Sith help attack the capital of the Republic, the Hands of Darkness are present in low key areas around the Jedi Temple. Mynock is infuriated when he is ordered by the Sith Empire to retreat, not wanting to expose his brotherhood he complies under heavy protest. This draws the attention of a certain Lady of Corruption; Darth Derriphan.

Revenge: The Sacking of Coruscant was to be a glorious moment in Imperial history, it was to be the moment the Republic which had stood for over a thousand generations would fall and a new Galactic Sith Empire would rise. It was a moment the warlike Shadow Council member Darth Mynock would prove himself worthy of a space on the Dark Council finally cementing him in the echelons of Sith power. But at the last minute his moment of triumph was pulled away, the Emperor had ordered a re-call from the crippled Republic capital world and a truce was ordered. Unknown to Mynock though he was being closely watched.

Using decades of acquired resources and information gathered from the Shadow Council member Darth Vanden, who had mysteriously disappeared several months prior to the sacking of Coruscant, Darth Derriphan had finally tracked down the secret outpost and began all out assault. Though her master had sought to destroy the Hands of Darkness completely she had other plans. Upon realizing just how deeply the Hands of Darkness had penetrated Imperial society and that she would be foolish to not take advantage of this opportunity and use it to her own advantage, Derriphan offered to turn over her own resources and any gathered intelligence on the Hands of Darkness in exchange for a seat upon the Hands own Council.

The Shadow Council knew they couldn’t risk Darth Derriphan handing all her information on the Hands of Darkness over to the Empire, whom they had worked so hard to remain hidden from for so many years. Grudgingly they accepted Derriphan's offer. Where her Master Darth Terros had tried generations before and failed, the ever ambitious Derriphan had succeeded and now she controlled the Hands of Darkness as amember of the mysterious Shadow Council.

Dark Relics: A month after her induction into the Shadow Council Darth Derriphan began a secret campaign to acquire lost Sith relics using the Hands extensive historical records dating back to the Great Sith War. The Dark lords search took her across the farthest reaches of Sith space. But her search would not go unnoticed, and soon she earned the attention of fellow council member, Darth Mynock.

Darth Mynock, receiving word from his own agents, had learned ofDerriphans search for powerful weapons that once served the armies of Exar Kun began to become nervous. Fearing the rival Shadow Council member may use the ancient relics against him in an attempt to claim sole ownership of the Hands, Mynock set out to confront the relic hunting Dark Lord. Proceeding to the Dark Lords last known location, Mynock was shocked to find his fellow Council member’s ship undergoing an attack from an unidentified and ancient vessel. Hailing the attackers ship Darth Mynock was surprised to find a strange blue figure looking out at him. A figure that would soon identify himself as the Chiss Sith Lord, Darth Viscus.

Mynock would not be denied his kill, Derirphan was his and he would not have some alien take that away from him. Mynock joined his fellow council member by her side, but before they could eliminate the rival Sith lord, Viscus revealed he had already in his possession the artefact that Derriphan had sought, and he was willing to turn its immense power on them all. They had come to an impasse, and the two council members had no choice to back down and listen to the demands of the Sith Lord.

A meeting was held aboard the vessel of Darth Viscus, a meeting that lasted hours. In the end though an agreement was made. Viscus, just as Derriphan before him was granted a seat on the Hands of Darkness council in exchange for any relics he may have in his control

Shadow Plots: Darth Torel, a female Nagai, Shadow Council member, and last survivor of the envoys initially sent by the Emperor to destroy the Hands years before now grew more and more paranoid as the Hands of Darkness began to expand. She disapproved of her fellow Council members, believing they were causing the Hands to increase in size too quickly, that they should remain small in number and in hiding. It was time now to enact her own secret plans to eliminate her fellow council member.

Under the guise of creating a new form of cybernetic mass data storage within a living host, Darth Torel befriended the young Arkanian cybernetics scientist and Force sensitive, Ezoia Queta. The two worked closely together, with Dr Ezoia unaware of the Dark Lords larger schemes to eradicate her rivals.  Soon the pair made a breakthrough in their plans, but still lacked one main component, a willing living host in which to insert the experimental data splint.

Darth Torel not wanting to allow such things to get in the way of her own plans, organised her Arkanian friend to befall an unfortunate accident. The shuttle crash the Dark Lord organised left Ezoia not only crippled but severely brain damaged, the perfect candidate for the pairs experiments. Darth Torel installed the experimental device, but never told her friend the full truth that through the device she was able to manipulate Ezoia, taking away her free will and becoming but a puppet.
 
Ezoia soon recovered believing the accident had only caused a few broken bones, she did however feel indebted to the Sith for the life saving procedure, and willingly accepted the Sith as her Master.  Under the Sith lords thrall Ezoia began her new life as Sith apprentice, under-going several years of training, never knowing that she was merely being prepared for the day the day Torel would activate the hidden data splint, upon which sat a list of the Sith lords rivals marked for extermination.

Finally the time was right, there was no more to teach, and Darth Torel set the half-breed on a path that would change her forever.  On a routine mission into the heart of fellow Shadow Council member Darth Derriphan’s enclave on Pella, the Sith lord activated the splint hidden deep within the Arkanians brain, sending Ezoia on a seemingly unstoppable mission to eliminate the Dark Lord. Unknown to Darth Torel though Ezoia had learned of the implant and the apprentice used the lessons of the dark side taught by her master to overcome the data splints effects.  Confronting her Masters rival, Ezoia saw a chance to gain her freedom, and willingly explained Darth Torel’s treacherous plans.

Derriphan enraged by the plans of Torel agreed to help the young Arkanian get revenge.  Ezoia returned to her Master under and in a brutal battle slew the Shadow Council member freeing her of her chains. Still remnants of the splint lingered, leaving Ezoia with vital information on the Council that could lead to their downfall.  She gave them the ultimatum grant her the seat on the council left by her former Master or she would reveal all their secrets  Seeing no choice but to grant Torel’s former apprentice her late Masters seat the Council accepted, and Ezoia took the new name of Darth Inanivis.

The Destruction of the Hands: Almost a decade after the Treaty of Coruscant,the secret of the Hands would once more be revealed to the Empire.  On the swamp world of Nal Hutta the crime lord Kazza the Hutt discovered strange imperial transmissions whilst attempting to intercept the holonet communications of a rival business, the Hands of Darkness owned Cantina, The laughing Sarlaac. Using a team of his top slicers Kazza was able to draw out list of dates, times and locations, outside of Imperial space and all referencing a mysterious group known as the Hands of Darkness.

Kazza believing he could use this knowledge to gain favour with the Empire the Hutt approached the Sith pure-blood, and staunch Imperial loyalist, Lord Ommadon.  The Sith Lord was a known hunter of Imperial traitors who had just returned from cleansing a recent uprising of M'dweshuu cultists that sought to bring their own particular brand of death worship to one of the Empires remotest colonies.

Ommadon took great interest in the information supplied by the Hutt and soon set about plans to form a strike team that would hit at every location mentioned in the decrypted data. On Kass City Ommadon approached the Dark Council, but soon found that without the names and further evidence of the traitors they were unwilling to act upon the meagre information supplied by the Hutts.  The Dark Lord found himself with out their backing but he would not allow that to stand in his way,of what he believed would be the final purge that would earn him the coveted title of Darth.

It took months for Ommadon to pin point the exact locations mentioned in the data, and soon he had enough information to begin his campaign of eradication.  Across the galaxy Othe Sith lords forces struck at places vital to the Hands of Darkness, though Ommadon had not anticipated the ability of the secret cabal to adapt to the lightning assault on their bases, and the Hands of Darkness fought back brutally.  Whilst their bases of power were left in ruins, they had repelled and destroyed the invading forces, or so they thought.

Battle of Outpost 1138: Ommadon had used the assaults on the Hands satellite outposts as a distraction for his true target, the very seat of the Hands power Outpost 1138. The few Hands that survived the assaults and thought to return to the safety of the close guarded hidden Outpost now found themselves in the middle of a chaotic battle. Ommadons forces greatly outnumbered the small number of Hands still alive, and desperate measures were needed to be taken if the cabal was to continue.

Having already lost one council member, Darth Mynock, to the attacks of Ommadons forces, the surviving Shadow Council members pressed on their own attacks against the invading fleet. Darth Inanivis lead the space assault against Ommadons imperial fleet, from the cockpit of her own Imperial fighter. Inanivis used her enhanced cybernetics to strike hard at several Imperial cruisers, leaving behind her a path of destruction.  Eventually though Inanivis would be forced to return to her own heavily damaged cruiser, it was only within the cruisers last few moments of being was she able to barely escape with her life.  Heavily injured Darth Inanivis, saw no option but to flee the battle to the nearest planet with a small group still loyal to the Dark lord.

Meanwhile Darth Derriphan as well as several other survivors of the Hands managed to slip aboard Outpost 1138 itself. Using what little time they had the Hands began a manic scramble to retrieve as much data as possible before it could be captured by Ommadons forces and handed to the Empire.  Not wanting to see the outpost fall into the attacking forces hands, Derriphan devised a plan using the centuries old battlecruiser of the ancient Lady of the Hands, Verra. During the early days of the Hands of Darkness Verra’s crusier had been deconstructed and it’s main core and engines reconstructed at the heart of the outpost, granting almost un-limited power for centuries to come.  It was these Derriphan would order to be dangerously overloaded, causing an explosion that would see the outpost vaporised.  Using one of the invading forces shuttle to escape the Hands managed to flee the Outpost just in time to see it disintegrate into a thousand pieces, removing any trace of it’s existence.

But the final battle occurred aboard the aging battle cruiser of Darth Viscus, engaging Ommadon’s own apprentice Tantus in combat in his throne room. The battle was fierce and left the Chiss Sith lord in mortal danger, knowing his only means of survival was through powerful dark side rituals the old Dark Lord unleashed the full power of his extensive dark side knowledge on the apprentice. Destroying not only Tantus’ mind but replacing it with his own.

Ommadon’s forces lay in ruins, the majority of his fleet destroyed, any evidence of the Hands wiped with the destruction of the Outpost, and his own apprentice dead.  Ommadon knew he could not return to the Dark Council and admit his defeat, and so quietly he fled into deep space his dreams of becoming a Darth shattered.