Brotherhood Canon

Our fictional setting is the year 42 ABY in the current canon Star Wars setting, with a few modifications, mostly to make the setting suitable for our characters. As of this writing, canon media has left the situation after Rise of Skywalker as a blank slate, and we generally do not worry about the state of the galaxy at large. Our Jedi and Sith are longstanding offshoots from the orders seen in canon media that are independent of Luke Skywalker’s academy and the Rule of Two, respectively. For us, balance in the Force does not require all but a handful of Force-users to be dead.

The DB moved from the old continuity (Legends or the Expanded Universe) in 2015 in order to better support upcoming Star Wars content and members who were familiar with it but not the decades of preexisting lore. Our timeline is set firmly in canon, meaning, for example, that the New Republic was brought down by the Sith Eternal and not the Yuuzhan Vong. However, many of our members love the old Legends novels, comics, and games. You will see this reflected in various places: we have clans named after Naga Sadow and Odan-Urr, we have member characters who are Jensaarai, we have possessions from the KOTOR and SWTOR games, etc. If you’re not familiar with or fond of Legends content, you don’t need to be to have a good experience in our setting; but if you are, you’ll find you’re not alone.

The Brotherhood

The Brotherhood is an ancient conspiracy formed by three cultists from different Dark Side traditions. Today, the Brotherhood is based on the planet Arx and most of its territory, resources, and manpower are held by seven semi-independent Clans in a feudal arrangement. Although originating as a group of Dark Side Force-wielders, the modern Brotherhood encompasses people from all walks of life.

You can learn more about major plotlines and organizations at the Fiction Center.

Arx and The Iron Throne

The Brotherhood is ruled from Arx, a habitable planet in Wild Space that was colonized by Darth Pravus in 35 ABY. It is ruled with absolute authority by the Grand Master and his Deputy, and is almost entirely dedicated to supporting the Council, the Grand Master’s military forces (the Iron Legion and Iron Navy), and the Brotherhood’s various secret societies.

The Council

The Council enacts the Grand Master’s will, with each member overseeing a large chunk of the Brotherhood’s affairs. Although the stereotypical Councilor is a powerful, scheming Sith Lord, individual Councilors’ motives and personalities vary a great deal.

The Master-at-Arms and Seneschal oversee much of the infrastructure that allows the Brotherhood to function, while the Regent handles logistics and procurement through the Arx Capital Exchange.

The Grand Master’s Royal Guard

The Fist commands the Iron Legion, the Iron Navy, and the Grand Master’s Royal Guard. The Guard draws its members from across the clans and provides protection for the Brotherhood’s leaders, an arrangement that leads to surprisingly few assassinations.

The Inquisitorius

The Voice oversees the Brotherhood’s intelligence apparatus, including the Inquisitorius. The Inquisitorius functions as the Brotherhood’s secret police force, identifying and destroying threats to the Grand Master’s power. Many Inquisitors lurk among the clans.

The Shroud Syndicate

The Herald sits at the top of the Shroud Syndicate, a far-reaching criminal cartel that raises funds for Brotherhood while taking care of a wide range of sordid and unsavory tasks. Much like Crimson Dawn during the late years of the Empire, the Shroud avoids open competition with groups like Black Sun and the Pykes, aiming to keep a lower profile.

The Aurora Collegium of Sciences

Led by the Headmaster, the Aurora Collegium of Sciences functions as the Brotherhood’s research center. Using scientists, researchers, and explorers—only some of whom know the Brotherhood exists—the Collegium uses the projects completed under its eye to benefit the Brotherhood at large with new technologies, and breakthroughs.

The Clans

Each of the seven clans maintains its own territory and military and looks out for its own affairs. Some act in the galaxy openly while others stick to the shadows. Some seek riches, others conquest, still others peace and prosperity. The clans trade resources and knowledge with Arx and each other and form a mutual defense pact against their powerful enemies.

Arcona

Arcona, known also by their sobriquet as the Shadow Clan, was born in the early days of the Brotherhood in 16 ABY. The Shadow Clan title stems from its origins on the planet Kali — which had a heliostatic orbit that left one side in eternal night — that bore with it a cult of sorts centered around shadows, darkness, and death. This brought with it similar titles for its members, the Shadesworn; the Proconsul Shadow Scion; and the Consul Shadow Lord/Lady.

Over the years, these brooding tendencies have lightened, and the contemporary Arcona accepts Force users and mundanes from all walks. It still maintains a modicum of secrecy over its demesne, the Dajorra System, controlling it largely from behind the curtain of official government bodies. Arcona's primary home resides in the Citadel on the planet Selen, but has holdings on other planets in the system such as Eldar and Aconae Primus, as well as the asteroid-borne trade hub of Port Ol'val.

Naga Sadow

Clan Naga Sadow furthers the ideals of the Sith Lord Naga Sadow. Patterned after his Sith empire of ages long past, we safeguard his legacy and work to expand the influence of our empire.

Odan-Urr

Odan-Urr was formed by refugees from Order 66 who initially settled on the planet New Tython. They were forcibly annexed into the Brotherhood by Darth Ashen in 28 ABY and New Tython was destroyed entirely by Darth Pravus in 34 ABY, leading to several years of open rebellion. However, the Odanites and the Brotherhood faced too many external enemies to remain foes forever, and today Odan-Urr maintains an uneasy peace with the Sith.

Odan-Urr is based on the planets Kiast, Daleem, and Solyiat in the Sephi-dominated Vatali Empire. Odan-Urr is dominated by Jedi following a revised version of the Jedi Code, but welcomes anyone willing to advance the Light, whatever their reasons for doing so.

Plagueis

Plagueis is the only clan in the Brotherhood solely adherent to the dark side of the Force. Adapting to both the vacuum of space and later a new dominion after being driven out of its original home, the clan has ascended to become a strong military and economic force - with an Imperialist influence - in the galaxy. The Sith, loyalists, Imperials, mercenaries, and subordinates of Plagueis thrive on strength, ruthlessness, and cunning to avail themselves.

Scholae Palatinae

Originating as shadowy protectors of Palpatine’s secrets, Scholae Palatinae has grown into an Empire in its own right. Utilizing the secrets Palpatine entrusted to his secret warehouses, Scholae Palatinae has taken control of the Caperion system.

Primarily based on Seraph, Scholae Palatinae has created a new monolith for Sith and Imperials to expand their knowledge of the Dark Side while their manufacturing and industrialization have given opportunities for mercenaries seeking to make their way in the galaxy.

Taldryan

Taldryan was formed from independent House Ektrosis, a powerhouse in the Brotherhood. After many successful ventures, House Ektrosis was granted Clan status, becoming part of the newly formed Clan Taldryan, a Clan maintaining a proud culture of teamwork, community, and competition, regardless of being a Sith, Jedi, or otherwise.

Clan Taldryan eventually settled within the Kr'Tal system, where they remained until the subsequent betrayal by Grand Master, Justicar, and Son of Taldrya, Jac Cotelin in 35 ABY.

From there, Taldryan settled in the Caelus system in 40 ABY, Supreme Chancellor Appius Taldrya Wight reformed the Clan into the Taldryan Republic, a galactic democracy to potentially succeed the fallen New Republic, giving sectors in the southwestern Outer Rim Territories a chance to become more than what they have been in these trying and wild times.

Vizsla

Clan Vizsla was formed by a band of outsiders with a goal of earning money, fame, and glory. The clan is allegiant to credits, and by proxy the Iron Throne. Clan Vizsla isn’t tied to the dogma of the Jedi or Sith, anyone is capable of excelling to the highest levels within it. Members are not judged based on force sensitivity, but by their ability to bring credits into the Clan’s coffers… and their own pockets.

Other Factions

Although much of the Brotherhood’s history has been dominated by conflict between various clans and contenders for the Iron Throne, in recent years other powers based in the Outer Rim, Wild Space, and the Unknown Regions have become major players in the Brotherhood’s unfolding story.

The Collective

The Collective is a powerful organization led by the fierce Rath Oligard. Their unified purpose is to rid the galaxy of Force users. They are one of the primary antagonists of the Dark Brotherhood, responsible for a multitude of conflicts, death, and loss.

The Collective are extremely hostile towards the Brotherhood.

The Severian Principate

The Severian Principate is a rare Imperial Warlord state which not only endured but thrived following the Empire’s collapse. Originally a network of mining worlds and orbital facilities in the Kastolar Sector, it existed to fuel the Empire’s war machine. This changed with the governorship of Lucian Niatinus, a commander disillusioned with the Emperor’s self-destructive policies. Devoted to improving the lives of his citizens and secretly allying with the smugglers and pirates from the nearby Hutt Space, he sought to create an ordered state free of the tyranny which inspired the Rebellion.

The Severian Principate is currently moderately allied with the Brotherhood

The Tenixir Revenants

The Tenixir Revenants are a loosely tied together group of criminals originating from many different backgrounds. Pirates, smugglers, gang members, assassins, terrorists: all have found a place among the Revenants. Their origin comes from survivors of the Tenixir supermax prison riot, freed as an act of good faith by the Brotherhood. These freed prisoners bound together overcoming their differences by their common hatred of the strict and harsh punishment of the Severian Principate. Now they live as nomads, no home base but their ships and a wide galaxy of opportunities before them.

The Tenixir Revenants are currently distrustful of the Brotherhood.

The Children of Mortis

The Children of Mortis are a fanatical cult led by "The Father". Believing the Force is shackled they seek to break its chains and allow its full might upon the galaxy. They utilize soul-powered crystals for many of their rites and rituals.

The Children of Mortis appear extremely hostile towards the Brotherhood.

---

Image Credits

Grand Master Pravus pleased with the progress of Eos City by V'yr Vorsa

The Seer, commissioned from Kaela Croft