The Sith also have important rites and rules in Star Wars around which their entire existence revolves. The central rule is already known from the films, but now it has been revealed: It is even nastier than previously thought.
What rule is it? Since Star Wars: Episode 1 (1999) we know: The Sith operate under the Rule of Two (it wasn’t named that way at the time). It was introduced by Darth Bane thousands of years before the Clone Wars to prevent conflicts within the Sith Order. It states: There shall be only one master and one apprentice.
A new book about Star Wars now confirms that there is an even nastier background within the relationship of a Sith master and apprentice.
The apprentice is not there to be properly trained
What is behind the relationship between master and apprentice? The latest book by Adam Christopher about Star Wars Master of Evil
takes place shortly after Episode 3 and focuses on Darth Vader, but from the perspective of an imperial spy of Palpatine. In doing so, he learns about an aspect of the Rule of Two during a vision, as comicbook.com reports.
The truth about the dark side is not meant to be taught. Its secrets are to be gathered, hoarded, and kept for oneself. That is how it should be.
The power of the master comes from the anger and fear of the apprentice: The master uses this power, absorbs the resentment, fuels the fire, and concentrates his power and influence on the dark side.
The apprentice is therefore not there for him to become stronger, but for the master to become stronger.
This would explain why the Sith train apprentices, despite the constant danger of betrayal. Even Vader hated Palpatine, even trying to overthrow him. That’s why Palpatine always sought out new, more powerful apprentices. First there was Darth Maul, then Darth Vader.
As the author of the book explains to the website Polygon, it may be that Vader’s power only shows him what he wants to see. The so-called Vergenz (a place or person with high Force energy) also feeds off Vader, who as the Chosen One possesses a particularly strong concentration of power (also a reason why Palpatine was so obsessed with him):
It’s not that Vader is so powerful that he draws strength from the Vergenz, but the Vergenz also draws strength from him. [Vader’s] mind is so powerful, his will is so strong that we can see all reflections of his mind in the Vergenz.
The new insight into the dynamics of the Sith explains why we rarely see Sith masters teaching anything about the secrets. The focus is mostly on emotions. After all, all of Anakin’s anger is based on the fact that he lost Padmé. The Rule of Two was never taken too seriously by Palpatine anyway: The Sith in Star Wars were so powerful for 1000 years because they followed an important rule – Darth Sidious intentionally broke it
