"Have you heard of the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?" Sheev Palpatine asked Anakin Skywalker in "Revenge of the Sith" in 2005. Now, 19 years later, we finally meet this Plagueis in "The Acolyte." Plagueis was a Muun, Darth Tenebrous's Sith apprentice, and Darth Sidious's (Palpatine) Sith Master. However, it is unclear exactly what his relationship to Qimir is.
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1. From 'Darth Plagueis' to 'The Acolyte'
The 2012 novel "Darth Plagueis" details the life of Plagueis, but the book has been subsumed into the Star Wars Legends universe, not the Star Wars canon universe where "The Acolyte" is located. Therefore, this book's setting of Plagueis is for informational purposes only:
Darth Plagueis, whose real name is Hego Damask, is a Sith apprentice that Tenebrous trained specifically for himself. Unlike the Jedi, who preferred to raise child Force-sensitives from a young age, the Sith traditionally preferred to directly apprentice teenagers, adults, and even the elderly. Tenebrous, however, decided to break with this tradition and directly nurture a baby as an apprentice. He arranged for a Force-sensitive female muse to seduce Caar Damask, an intergalactic banking conglomerate mid-level executive who was also Force-sensitive, and their son, Hego, grew to a certain age, and Tenebrous made a pact with Caar: Caar would give his son to Tenebrous, and Tenebrous would help Caar to rise to great heights. In this way, young Hego became Tenebrous' Sith apprentice. In Chapter 9 of "Darth Plagueis," Plagueis tells Palpatine that he is well over 100 years old by human standards. This was 65 years before the Battle of Yavin. So Plagueis (Hego Damask) was born at least 165 years before the Battle of Yavin. So by 132 years before the Battle of Yavin, when the story of "The Acolyte" takes place, Plagueis was at least 33 years old. Tenebrous was killed by Plagueis in 67 years before the Battle of Yavin. So Tenebrous was also alive 132 years before the Battle of Yavin.Darth Plagueis, a prominent figure in Sith lore, is often regarded as one of the most formidable Sith Lords in the Star Wars universe. According to those provided in the book "Darth Plagueis" by James Luceno, there are intriguing indications that Plagueis was considered a true menace by the Force itself. In this article, we delve into the compelling evidence that suggests Darth Plagueis was seen as a threat by the Force, as described in the book.
2. The Force's Reaction to Plagueis
Plagueis possessed an awe-inspiring ability to extend his consciousness and connect with the minds of all living beings. However, his efforts were met with resistance from the Force. As stated in "Darth Plagueis": "But ultimately to no end. The Force grew silent, as if in flight from him, and many of the animals in his laboratory succumbed to horrifying diseases." This passage clearly illustrates that the Force actively opposed Plagueis' intrusion and retaliated against him by infecting his laboratory specimens with deadly diseases.
3. The Etheric War: Tipping the Scales of Power
In a daring bid for dominance, Plagueis and his apprentice, Darth Sidious, initiated the etheric war—a spiritual battle that sought to challenge the Force itself. Through their relentless pursuit of power and their mastery of the dark side, they achieved the unthinkable: a shift in the balance of the Force toward the dark side.In "Darth Plagueis", "Risen out of themselves, discorporate and as a single entity, they had brought the power of their will to bear, asserting their sovereignty over the Force."
4. Disturbing the Cosmic Harmony: Plagueis' Unbalancing of the Force
The consequences of the etheric war waged by Plagueis and Sidious extended far beyond their immediate sphere of influence. Through their relentless efforts, they succeeded in transforming the galaxy into a stronghold of the dark side, triggering a profound disruption in the natural equilibrium of the Force. As the radiant presence of the light side diminished, an unsettling sense of uncertainty cast its shadow over the future.
5. Fear and Retribution: Plagueis vs. the Force
Even Plagueis himself was not impervious to the fear of the Force's retribution. Confronted with the consequences of his actions, he pondered the calamity that the Force might unleash upon him and his apprentice. As depicted in "Darth Plagueis," he wondered about the retribution that the Force might plan against him and Sidious for their audacious challenge. Plagueis feared that the Force would unleash calamity upon them. The book describes Plagueis' thoughts: "Gazing into Sojourn's darkening sky, he wondered what calamity the Force was planning in retreat to visit upon him or Sidious or both of them for willfully tipping the balance."
6. The Force's Answer: Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One
In the face of the Sith's unbalancing of the Force, the cosmic scales sought equilibrium. The Force responded with a remarkable intervention—the birth of Anakin Skywalker, the prophesied Chosen One. "An act like this is basically the equivalent of divine intervention. The fact that the Force had to go to such lengths to ensure the defeat of the Sith speaks volumes of their power and danger." This conversation further accentuates the magnitude of the threat posed by Plagueis and Sidious, and the Force's active role in countering it.
Conclusion
The evidence presented in the Star Wars saga, particularly in the book "Darth Plagueis" by James Luceno, suggests that Darth Plagueis was not only a formidable adversary for the Jedi but also a menace feared by the Force itself. The Force's active resistance to his telepathic reach, the success of the etheric war, and the unbalancing of the Force underscore the magnitude of Plagueis' power and the danger he posed. Plagueis stands as a chilling reminder of the eternal struggle between the light and dark sides of the Force, revealing the fragility of balance in the cosmic order.
