Sith Hogwarts
Korriban, the ancestral homeworld of the Sith Empire, occupies a central role in Star Wars: The Old Republic. This desolate, rocky planet forms the backdrop for the initial stages of multiple class narratives, notably those of the Sith Warrior and the Sith Inquisitor. Its arid landscape and ancient structures reflect the harsh ethos of the Sith, where strength and survival are paramount.
The Sith Academy dominates life on Korriban. It is a harsh training ground where acolytes undergo rigorous trials to demonstrate their allegiance to the dark side. These trials unfold within the planet’s ancient tombs, which lie scattered around the Academy. Filled with traps, hostile creatures, and relics of the earliest Dark Lords, the tombs demand cunning and resilience. Many who enter do not return, their remains joining those of countless failed aspirants from previous eras.
For the Sith Warrior, the trials involve retrieving a holocron sealed within the Tomb of Marka Ragnos, a challenge unsolved for over a thousand years. The task requires overcoming the tomb’s inherent dangers and subduing Imperial troops driven to madness by the dark side’s influence. Meanwhile, the Sith Inquisitor is tasked with retrieving an artefact from the Tomb of Tulak Hord for their master, Lord Zash. This mission demands the collection of fragmented shards from an ancient Sith tablet scattered amidst the tomb’s perilous ruins.
Beyond their role as proving grounds, Korriban’s tombs preserve the history and artefacts of the Sith. For instance, the Tomb of Naga Sadow conceals a hidden Sith lightsaber, pursued by the Sith Warrior and their master, Darth Baras. To secure it, the warrior allies with Vette, a captured Twi’lek tomb robber, navigating defences such as ancient sentry droids and animated statues. The Valley of the Dark Lords, carved into the planet’s surface, further cements Korriban’s historical weight as the burial site of the Sith’s most formidable figures.
The planet’s visual design reinforces its ominous character. Red-hued deserts and decaying ruins evoke a landscape steeped in desolation, mirroring its identity as a graveyard for the Sith’s ancient past. The tombs’ interiors, adorned with intricate carvings and statues, reflect their occupants' grandeur and menace. An oppressive atmosphere pervades these spaces, intensified by the presence of those corrupted by the dark side, including deranged Imperial troops and acolytes who succumbed to the planet’s malevolent energies.
Within the broader Star Wars narrative, Korriban holds profound significance. As the Sith’s ancestral home, it acts as a focal point for the dark side, attracting acolytes and seasoned Sith Lords seeking to harness its power. The relics and records within its tombs offer insights into Sith traditions, beliefs, and the legacies of their leaders. The trials faced by acolytes emphasise the Sith philosophy of strength, ambition, and the ruthless pursuit of power. Furthermore, Korriban’s role in The Old Republic underscores the enduring conflict between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic, with each generation of Sith trainees symbolising a renewed threat to galactic stability.
Korriban’s detailed lore and atmospheric design establish it as a cornerstone of the Star Wars: The Old Republic experience. Its ancient tombs, fraught trials, and pervasive darkness encapsulate the essence of the Sith, offering players a window into their relentless quest for dominance through the dark side. The planet’s integration of narrative depth and visual artistry ensures its place as a defining element within the Star Wars mythos.
