The Sith. The very name has haunted the Jedi Order for millennia. This cult of Force practitioners has known both absolute power and unconscionable self-destruction. Indeed, they are something of an enigma -- nightmares to all, but to themselves, a natural expression of the Force.
The Sith Code

Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.


The Sith are creatures of passion and lust. The dark side has its allure because it calls to the things we crave most in life, seducing those whose desires outstrip their sanity.

Selflessness is not a concept inherent in the Sith way of being. Those who choose to serve the dark side out of devotion to a philosophical or religious ideal are rare. The exploration of passion inevitably leads to desire, and delving deeply into desire inevitably leads to greed. Power corrupts, and the Sith are no exception. Though one may begin on the path intending balance or even commanding the dark side for altruistic purposes, all fall prey to greed and vanity. This is why groups of Sith, left to their own devices, eventually turn on each other. They are predators, and sooner or later, Sith regard their bretheren as threats.

You might say the key difference between the Jedi and the Sith is that the Jedi contemplate and master inner space to serve others, whereas the Sith dominate and master outer space to serve themselves.


Creating a Monster

To create a compelling Sith character, you must consider several important factors, including his reason for falling to the dark side, his personal interpretation of Sith beliefs, and his torturous apprenticeship.

Falling to the Dark Side

Though each Sith is unique, they share things in common. The most obvious is the presence of a person or event that pulled them to the dark side. Many fall in pursuit of power; their desire for personal gain draws them to a philosophy of absolutes. Many others fall prey through their inability to resolve deep hurt, anger, fear, or hatred. These emotions consume their sanity and draw them into a spiral of suffering, transforming them into a potential Sith.

But these are not the only reasons. Some begin with a desire to discover balance in the Force, believing that a true understanding of existence is possible only by examining the light and dark facets of all beings. Others begin with an altruistic desire to help others by rapidly increasing their power or gaining access to mythical abilities that only the dark side can offer. Some are drawn through a misguided hunger for curiosity, a deep desire simply to know. Most often, it is a combination of these factors, but they all lead down the same path.

This crucial event is the foundation in Sith character design. It helps determine who he is on a core level.
Sketch out a back story of how your character first encountered the power of the dark side. What made him curious enough to play with fire and ultimately become baptized by it, reborn as a creature of darkness?

Beliefs

The philosophy of the Sith is unique. It is a cult dedicated to the most dangerous of emotions, yet it rises to galaxy-shaking power again and again. One of the primary reasons for this is the Sith's absolute devotion to the law of the jungle -- only the strong survive, and it is the right of the strong to prey on the weak. Through perpetual conflict, the strong are pushed down the path of perfection. This is the reason the Sith have pressed the galaxy into war and oppression time and again, some for reasons of personal strength and gain, and others through a philosophy of forcing change and evolution. Morality and peace are only obstructions to this ultimate goal.

The Sith also believe that the path to power is to attain a more holistic view of the Force by embracing their passions. Whereas the Jedi seek to overcome "negative" emotions such as pain, anger, and hate, the Sith welcome them as natural -- and as fuel in their quest for power.

These are the fundamental beliefs of the Sith, but each one internalizes and acts on them differently. Take a moment to determine which of these beliefs are most important to your character and how he works to enforce them on others and on the galaxy as a whole

Apprenticeship

When developing a Sith character, consider his schooling in the dark side. How did he slip under the wing of his master? What was his apprenticeship like? Every Sith apprentice stirs in the shadows of his master for many years as he is instructed in the dark side. The nature of this apprenticeship varies, but it relies on cruelty and manipulation. The lessons are designed to nurture the consuming passions of the apprentice while cultivating things that lead to aggression, such as pain, malice, and revenge.

In addition, Sith training works to eradicate fear and compassion -- two emotions that cripple the strong. That which a Sith Lord fears or finds compassion for has power over him, something which he must not abide. Thus, he is forced to confront and conquer his fears, usually in traumatic ways, and the things he loves are stolen from him, one by one, until he is no longer tethered to anything but his devotion to the Sith.

General Appearance

Typically, the Sith have a distinctive appearance. Because of their obsessions and their views, they most often choose to stand out. Whether it be in their style of dress (such as the common choice of intimidating black robes or battle dress), in their personal affectation (such as wearing the bones of their victims or simply a wild style of hair or makeup), or just in the way they comport themselves, the Sith do not blend in.

Then there are the eyes. The flooding power of the dark side often changes the eyes of the Sith to a sickly yellow, sometimes rimmed with red. The more dark side power that a Sith wields, the more likely it is that the change to his eyes is permanent. The eyes of a Sith are unnerving and can become difficult to conceal.

Many Sith Lords tattoo themselves in accordance with ancient custom, with black or alternating red and black markings covering their entire body. Some choose to decorate only part of their body, but since the tattoos are a symbol of their devotion to the order, the markings must be visible to all. Therefore, facial tattoos are common. Tattooing according to Sith tradition is, unsurprisingly, a very painful process

Those forced to hide in plain sight are the exception, pretending to be as normal, upstanding, and even kindly as possible (such as Darth Sidious or Darth Tyranus). Of course, their true nature stirs unseen, always plotting. A dark side practitioner may relish in the shadow play, building his lies and illusions, until it reaches just the right pitch to drop the pretense and reveal his allegiance. Ultimately, Sith do not prefer to hide what they are.

There are many facets to creating a unique look for your Sith character. The first question to answer: Does he choose to fit in, or has he fully embraced the ways of the Sith? If he chooses to fit in, he will look just like everyone else most of the time. But like most Sith, he will have another face that he wears when among his own kind...