Sith alchemy

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"Through alchemy, one uses the Force to effect change on the physical."

―Sorzus Syn^[2]

Force alchemy,^[3] better known as Sith alchemy, was a science that referred to a number of areas under the Sith. It encompassed any power or technique which used the Dark side of the Force to permanently alter an item or living being. It is rejected by the Jedi as an act of treason against the Force's will.

History[]

Je'daii Order of Tython[]

SWDotJ 2 — Shae Koda astride her alchemically manipulated rancor-dragon on Tython.

"Alchemy should have no part in a Je'daii's experience. It is a dark force, arcane and dangerous. It has the power to upset balance. There are other ways."

―Je'daii Temple Master Vor'Dana, 26,032 BBY^[1]

A power related to elemental manipulation and metallurgy, Force alchemy was an ability practiced by some members of the Je'daii Order on the planet Tython. Taught at the Temple of Science, Anil Kesh, practice of alchemy required leaning into the dark side of the Force, but was deemed a permissible skill for study by the Je'daii Council. Despite this, some Je'daii questioned its practice and found it to be perverse or heretical. Je'daii Master Dam-Powl viewed her student Lanoree Brock's talent to genetically manipulate cells from her own body and create life, a skill called the alchemy of flesh. This skill could be used on any bit of flesh and used to manipulate other flesh, such as when Ranger Brock used skin particles to sear the memory of another person, erasing their memories by pushing the skin dust up into his brain.^[1]

At Anil Kesh, the Je'daii carried out alchemical experiments on wild beasts captured in the Abyss of Ruh, a pit deep in the heart of the Riftlands. The genetical manipulation of these animals was not done in a way that hurt or damaged the beasts, but the Je'daii believed that it was the true wish of their natural evolution that was being forwarded. Aside from alteration to living flesh, the Je'daii also used alchemical metallurgy to alter weapons both traditional and Force-based tools. Transmutation of chemicals and the restricting of solids were related abilities.^[1]

Sith Order[]

"But ask me the secrets of Sith alchemy, and I would ask you for three measures of blood: one from a person you love, one from a person you hate, and one from yourself."

―Naga Sadow^[4]

While the Sith species practiced Sith alchemy long before the Exiles arrived on Korriban, it was the Exiles who perfected it, one of their best being Sorzus Syn, using the knowledge to create the Leviathans that they acquired during the Hundred-Year Darkness.^[4]

Sith monsters — Monsters created by Sith alchemy: a Sith war behemoth, a Sith war worm, and a chrysalide rancor

Sith alchemy was primarily used to enhance the strength of weapons and armor (such as the famous Sith swords), or to genetically engineer and enhance alien species, making them more dangerous and easier to control by the Sith Lords. More sinisterly, Sith alchemy was capable of waking the dead in servitude to the Sith. Korriban zombies, and possibly Sith undead, were creations of this branch of the art.^[5] They are also known, in the Sith language, as the Tsaiwinokka Hoyakut - the reanimated dead.^[2]

One of the many applications of Sith Alchemy was the art of creating nefarious toxins, such as Sith poison.

Naga Sadow wrote many texts concerning the art of Sith alchemy.^[4] These were studied by Seviss Vaa, whose experiments were responsible for the Behemoth from the World Below.^[6] Certain xenobiologists suspected that the predators of Yavin 8 and the native Melodies may have been products of Sith alchemy.^[7]

While he was on Yavin 4, the Sith Lord Exar Kun used alchemy to create terrifying creatures twisted by the dark side's influence. Around this time, the Sorcerer of Tund Karnak Tetsu practiced Sith alchemy.^[8]

Darth Plagueis was a master of this dark art.^[9] Plagueis' apprentice, Darth Sidious, later wrote a book about Sith alchemy entitled The Creation of Monsters, and was responsible for the creation of such monstrosities as Shadow Droids and chrysalis beasts.^[4] He claimed that Darth Vader was partially an alchemical creation. Darth Sidious may have also utilized the mask ability to hide his true, corrupted features.^[10]

The Prophet of the Dark Side Cronal was referred to as Sidious' "monster-maker", and was responsible for the creation of such sithspawn as Gorc and Pic through the dark art of Sith Alchemy.^[11] Cronal also created a specialized helmet that, when used, would amplify his dark side powers to an astounding degree, as well as allowing him to draw on the force abilities of other force-sensitives called the Pawns.

During the time of the Galactic Civil War, the Sith spirit Valik Kodank taught the Dark Jedi Thaum Rystra how to utilize Sith alchemy. Rystra used his knowledge of the subject to carry out investigations inside the Room of Change in the Temple of Pain, and he experimented on the pirates Blaschowwa, Kamtis Bonai, Vobin Sobos and Desvin Tor'thal.^[12]

The One Sith featured Sith Alchemy heavily in their plans. Darth Maladi used Sith Alchemy in combination with Vong Shaping to create the Vongspawn virus and set off the Sith–Imperial War. In the Second Imperial Civil War Vul Isen used Sith Alchemy, aided by knowledge provided by Darth Wyyrlok, to create an aquatic form of Leviathan to hunt down the people of Dac.

Many creatures altered by Sith alchemy were able to see in complete darkness, although they could not distinguish colors.