Korriban


 * Korriban-TOR.jpgban shall be as it always was. A graveyard for the darkest of the Sith Lords, still whispering within their tombs. It shall always be a source of evil, spawning threats throughout the millennia. It, like Malachor, brushes the edges of the empire that waits in the dark. And like Malachor, the Sith have forgotten it … for a time. They will remember."
 * ―Darth Traya[src]|undefined

Korriban, known as Pesegam during the reign of Xim[2], was the sole planet in the Horuset system, located across the galaxy from Koros Major[6]. It was the original homeworld of the Sith species and a sacred planet for the Sith Order, housing the tombs for many ancient and powerful Dark Lords of the Sith, and containing immense dark side power.

After the Hundred Year Darkness, the remaining Dark Jedi interbred with the Sith species and ruled the Sith using their Force powers. After the Great Hyperspace War, Korriban was abandoned and became a barren world. It was the site of a Sith Academy, and became the headquarters of the One Sith.

It was close to Bosthirda and was located on the Nache Bhelfia and Kamat Krote hyperspace lanes.
 * "The call of Korriban is strong, but it is the call of the dead."
 * ―Darth Sion[src]|undefined

Infinite EmpireEdit
Korriban as seen from space This remote, forbidding planet was the original homeworld of the Sith species[7]. At some point prior to 30,000 BBY a Killik colony was established on Korriban, which eventually produced a Killik Sith Lord. The insectoid colonists were swiftly driven off, though, by the Sith.

The Rakata invaded Korriban in an attempt to integrate the world into the Infinite Empire around 27,700 BBY, intending to harvest slaves from the planet to be used for Rakatan projects[8]. The sole artifact to survive this era was the ancient Star Map, around which the tomb of Naga Sadow was later built.

The Rakata were eventually forced off the world after the Sith King Adas led his people against them[7]. Adas died in the battle, and thus, despite this victory, the Sith society crumbled, and, in the ensuing centuries of strife, the Sith relocated to worlds such as Arbra, Ziost and Tund using captured Rakatan vessels, leaving Korriban as a graveyard world populated only by religious fanatics[2].

For a brief period, the world was at least nominally a member of Xim's empire and given the name Pesegam, from around 25,126 BBY until its fall[2].

Sith EmpireEdit

 * "Korriban, the birthplace of my power. I arrived as a Sith Acolyte, trained in the dark side; now, an apprentice to a Sith Lord. My rage has purpose. I will hunt the Jedi and destroy the Galactic Republic."
 * ―Unnamed Sith Warrior [src]

Valley of the Dark Lords The Sith Empire was founded in approximately 6,900 BBY by exiled fallen Jedi fleeing the Battle of Corbos, which concluded the Hundred-Year Darkness[9]. The fallen Jedi landed on Korriban.[10]

Using their training in the Force, the fallen Jedi amazed the Sith and elevated themselves to god-like status on Korriban, becoming the rulers of the Sith people[9]. As years passed, and interbreeding occurred between the Fallen Jedi and the Sith[8], the term "Sith" came to mean not only the original inhabitants of Korriban, but also their fallen Jedi masters. Until the rise of Naga Sadow, the existence of the Sith Empire was unknown to the Galactic Republic.

Under the pall of Sith magic, this desolate world became more hellish and dangerous[11] .The Sith Lords erected huge palaces and burial complexes to honor their fallen Dark Lords. Circa 5,000 BBY, the planet became an endpoint of the newly-formed Daragon Trail hyperspace lane, when it was discovered by Gav and Jori Daragon[6]. This event triggered the Great Hyperspace War. After the fall of the Sith Empire, the planet lost much of its prominence in the galaxy, eventually falling off the galactic starcharts for a thousand years. Despite the belief the Sith as a species became extinct after the end of the war, isolated enclaves of Kissai and Massassi existed on the planet over a millennia after their empire's fall.[4]

Old Sith WarsEdit

 * "Pfah. Korriban's a rock. Mind the Sith."
 * ―Jolee Bindo[src]|undefined

Korriban was resettled prior to 3,993 BBY by Dark Jedi survivors of the Exar Kun War [source?], and was home to the new settlement of Dreshdae and a Sith training academy[8] [12]. In 3,993 BBY, as part of the Great Hunt, Duron Qel-Droma and Shaela Nuur died on the planet, failing to cleanse it of terentateks<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kotor_7-3">[8] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sal_11-1">[12]. The planet became the sector headquarters of the Czerka Corporation. Darth Revan and Darth Malak visited the planet on their quest to discover the Star Forge. After losing his memory, Revan visited the academy again in 3,956 BBY on his quest to re-discover the Star Forge for the good of the Republic. Seeking the Star map in Naga Sadow's tomb he passed the tests and then confronted Uthar. With the death of Master Uthar Wynn, the academy's headmaster, and Darth Malak himself at the hands of Revan in 3,956 BBY, the Sith Order collapsed into a civil war (which took place 3,956-3,950 BBY) which decimated the Sith Order.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tsl_12-0">[13]

The Ebon Hawk lifts off from Dreshdae starport, awash in the golden light of a Korriban sunset. It took the Republic a couple of years to send an expeditionary force to Korriban (around 3,954 BBY) in order to deal with any potential Sith who might attempt to take up the mantle of Dark Lord. They found a planet nearly in ruins—barren and lifeless as a result of the then unknown civil war<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tsl_12-1">[13]. It was assumed by the commanders of the Republic task force that the remnants of the Sith turned on each other, vying for what little power remained. It was also said that Revan had always intended to return to Korriban one day to subdue any would-be Sith insurgents, but he then disappeared.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tsl_12-2">[13]. However, the Republic discovered evidence that several Sith Lords did manage to escape the planetary conflagration, fleeing to remote corners of the galaxy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nec_8-2">[9]

After the fall of Darth Malak, the ancient tombs within the Valley of the Dark Lords were plundered by grave-robbers. Each tomb was once infused with history and heritage of the old Sith Empire, containing great mysteries and powerful relics of the Force.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pod_13-0">[14] Many broken, charred corpses littered the plains of Korriban during this time, virtually all that remained of the Sith who once inhabited the world. However, their malignant spirits remained, ready to confront any who disturb their rest by way of their guardian-familiars, the Hssiss.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tsl_12-3">[13]

In the chaos following the Jedi Civil War, which nearly destroyed the Jedi Order, Jedi Master Lonna Vash used Korriban as a hideout. She was eventually trapped and killed by Sith Lord Darth Sion in the ruins of the academy, and then used as bait to lure the Jedi Exile into Sion's hands. After escaping the trap, the Exile discovered the long lost tomb of Ludo Kressh.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tsl_12-4">[13]

Great Galactic WarEdit

 * "After a thousand years… Korriban is ours again!"
 * ―Darth Malgus — Listen (file info)[src]|undefined

The Sith reclaim Korriban In the aftermath of the Jedi Civil War, a fleet of Republic ships remained to guard the abandoned Sith world of Korriban. This remained until the onset of the Great Galactic War, when the reformed Sith Empire emerged and began conquering worlds in the Aparo sector as well as ambushed the Republic fleet in the Tingel Arm, as part of the Emperor's plan. In order to bolster their forces, the Republic pulled many of their ships to support the fleet which left only a small number of Jedi security ships to patrol Korriban, this action however had already been predicted and, played right into the Emperor's hand. As the conflict continued, the Sith, knowing that the Republic Forces on Korriban were weakened significantly, staged an assault against the guarding ships and destroyed them thus returning the planet to Sith control, just as the Emperor planned, before the Jedi Council became aware of the incident.

Retaking Korriban had been a top priority for the Sith Empire, when it re-emerged during the Great War. After retaking the planet, they re-established the Sith Academy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Korriban_14-0">[15]

New Sith WarsEdit

 * "Korriban is the ancestral home of the Sith. It is a place of great power; the dark side lives and breathes in the very core of this world."
 * ―Qordis to Darth Bane[src]|undefined

After capturing the planet from the Republic in a brutal battle, the New Sith Empire and the subsequent Brotherhood of Darkness both occupied Korriban, with the latter known to have operated a Sith Academy on the planet. A young Darth Bane studied there before becoming a Sith Lord. The apprentices that trained there were the ones that were to join the Brotherhood of Darkness, thereby the most powerful Sith being trained in the galaxy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pod_13-1">[14]

Clone Wars and the Galactic EmpireEdit
In 24 BBY, a Sith Cultist by the name of Granta Omega tried to contact the remaining Sith Lord (or lords) in the galaxy. Although he did meet with the unknown Sith, Omega was killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi, though not before Omega killed Darra Thel-Tanis.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jedi_Quest:_The_Final_Showdown_15-0">[16]

The world remained desolate until it was taken over by the Commerce Guild just prior to the Clone Wars, c. 24 BBY. Other than Guild employees, the planet was mostly inhabited by those who were unfortunate enough to end up on Korriban and have no way offworld.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jedi_Quest:_The_Final_Showdown_15-1">[16] Eeth Koth led a Republic force to Korriban during the early stages of the war, and the battle cost the lives of many Clone troopers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WildSpace_16-0">[17]

Rebel troops attack the Imperials on Korriban.

At some point in the Clone Wars, fallen Jedi Quinlan Vos and Tol Skorr were racing to find Darth Andeddu's holocron for Count Dooku.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Star_Wars_Republic_63:_Striking_from_the_Shadows_17-0">[18] Vos won by allowing a Tuk'ata to scare Skorr off. As a reward, Count Dooku gave Andeddu's lightsaber crystal to Vos

New Verse Vergence.(coming soon)
In 18 BBY the surviors of the Jedi order moved there. . ..

FaunaEdit
Due to the planet's harsh terrain (or the power of the dark side), Korriban's native fauna was both vicious and cunning, such as the fierce terentateks. The bat-like Shyracks lived in great numbers in caves on the planet. Tuk'ata, sometimes called Sith hounds were also fairly common, particularly in the Valley of the Dark Lords. Dark side dragons, or Hssiss, could be found on Korriban, though as semi-aquatic creatures, they were quite rare. Wraid were also found on Korriban. There is evidence that, at one point, the planet was home to an ape or primate-like species, although by the time of Naga Sadow the species was long extinct. Though it is possible that the primate-like species was somehow connected to the Sith species, no conclusive link between this species and the Sith species was known. The highly venomous pelko bug was an insect native to the planet—its venom had a potent numbing effect and was used in Sith training sabers by the Brotherhood of Darkness during the end of the New Sith War. By the time of the Cold War, K'lor'slugs could also be found on Korriban.

Behind the scenesEdit
Concept art of Korriban for Star Wars: The Old Republic Though Ziost was established as the original Sith homeworld in The Golden Age of the Sith, many sources described Korriban as the Sith homeworld. It was the "public" capital world of the Sith Empire during the era of Darth Revan, but was a mausoleum-world for millennia beforehand and would return to such a state not long after.

The controversy was put to rest in the article Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties by Abel G. Peña, which clearly established the Sith originating on Korriban and relocating the capital to Ziost before the arrival of the Dark Jedi exiles during the Hundred Year Darkness, though the Dark Jedi exiles themselves landed on Korriban.

From the article Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties:

''Without Adas' unifying influence, wars once again raged for rule of the Sith people, with the reigning combatants arrogantly claiming the title of Sith'ari, and eventually forcing a relocation of the Sith capitol to the planet Ziost. Eventually, almost two-dozen millennia after Adas' death, a proper successor to Adas seemed to come at last. Known in Republic space as the Exiles, traitorous Jedi defeated in a galactic war called the Hundred-Year Darkness arrived on Korriban and cowed the Sith people with their astounding Force abilities, lightsabers, and superior technology.''

In Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, entering the word "KORRIBAN" in the "Input Code" section unlocks the Sith stalker armor.

SourcesEdit
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Korriban
 * "Straight from the Horse's Mouth: A Guide to the Tales of the Jedi Universe, Part 1"—Star Wars Insider 26
 * Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
 * The Emperor's Pawns
 * The New Essential Chronology
 * Korriban on the Knights of the Old Republic website
 * "Heritage of the Sith"—Star Wars Insider 88
 * Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties on Hyperspace (article)
 * Korriban: Planet of Lost Souls on Wizards.com (original article link, backup links 1 2 on Archive.org)
 * The Official Star Wars Fact File 133 (KOR1-4, Korriban)
 * Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force
 * Behind the Threat: The Sith, Part 1: Portrayal on Wizards.com (original article link, backup links 1 2 on Archive.org)
 * Korriban on Star Wars: The Old Republic website
 * Korriban Creatures on Wizards.com (original article link, backup links 1 2 on Archive.org)
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide
 * Legacy Era Campaign Guide
 * Jedi Academy Training Manual
 * Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 21
 * Korriban on The Old Republic Holonet
 * The Essential Atlas
 * "Class Wars!"—Star Wars Insider 114
 * Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 37
 * The Written Word
 * The Unknown Regions
 * The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force
 * "Exploring The Old Republic"—Star Wars Insider 121
 * Sith Pureblood on The Old Republic Holonet
 * Terentatek on The Old Republic Holonet
 * Khem Val on The Old Republic Holonet

Notes and referencesEdit

 * 1) ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 Korriban: Planet of Lost Souls on Wizards.com (original article link, backup links 1 2 on Archive.org)
 * 2) ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 The Essential Atlas
 * 3) ↑ Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide
 * 4) ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
 * 5) ↑ Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, last accessed on December 24, 2007.
 * 6) ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith
 * 7) ↑ 7.0 7.1 Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties
 * 8) ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * 9) ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 The New Essential Chronology
 * 10) ↑ The Sith in the Databank
 * 11) ↑ The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
 * 12) ↑ 12.0 12.1 Shadows and Light
 * 13) ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * 14) ↑ 14.0 14.1 Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
 * 15) ↑ Korriban on Star Wars: The Old Republic official website
 * 16) ↑ 16.0 16.1 Jedi Quest: The Final Showdown
 * 17) ↑ The Clone Wars: Wild Space
 * 18) ↑ Star Wars: Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
 * 19) ↑ The Emperor's Pawns
 * 20) ↑ Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
 * 21) ↑ 21.0 21.1 Empire's End
 * 22) ↑ Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * 23) ↑ Star Wars: Legacy—War 6

External linksEdit

 * Korriban on the Star Wars: The Old Republic Wiki